The Cougars, who have posted a 37-14 overall record so far this season and will be the top seed at the 10-team double elimination NCCAA National Tournament this week, earned nearly half of the spots on the 17-player NCCAA East Region Team. Head coach Keith Veale was also selected as the NCCAA East Region Coach of the Year by his peers for his efforts in leading the team to its 12th conference title and a runner-up finish in NAIA Region IX.

Josh Estep, a sophomore shortstop from Gahanna, Ohio, was named the NCCAA East Region Player of the Year. The former Gahanna Lincoln High School standout leads MVNU with a .418 batting average, 58 RBI, and 16 doubles and has also registered one triple, seven home runs, and 50 runs scored.

Levi Curry, a junior left-handed pitcher from Mount Vernon, Ohio, was selected as the NCCAA East Region Pitcher of the Year. The former Mount Vernon High School star has posted a 7-3 record with a 2.39 ERA. In 71.2 innings of work, he has struck out 54 batters and issued just 18 walks.

Richey Burgos and Ross Yoder were also named to the NCCAA East Region Team as three-fourths of the Cougars’ infield was honored at their respective positions. Eddie Smith was also named to the NCCAA East Region Team in the outfield, and Mike Laughlin and Brandon Turner joined Curry as three of the four pitchers on the NCCAA East Region Team. Zack Helm was also selected as the NCCAA East Region Team designated hitter.

Burgos, a junior third baseman from Ponce, Puerto Rico, leads the Cougars with 10 home runs. The former Puerto Rico Academy product is batting .372 with 14 doubles, two triples, 48 runs scored, and 43 RBI.

Yoder, a junior second baseman from Berlin, Ohio, has scored a team-high 59 runs and stolen eight bases as the MVNU lead-off hitter. The former Hiland High School star is batting .405 with 12 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, and 45 RBI. He also has a .972 fielding percentage with seven errors in 252 fielding chances.

Smith, a senior centerfielder from Johnstown, Ohio, is batting .355 with eight doubles, one triple, five home runs, 39 runs scored, and 49 RBI. The former Northridge High School product has also committed just two errors in the outfield this season.

Laughlin, a senior right-handed pitcher from Mogadore, Ohio, has posted a 5-2 record on the mound with a 2.97 ERA. In 60.2 innings of work, the former Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy standout has struck out 55 batters and opponents are hitting just .219 against him.

Turner, a junior left-handed pitcher from Lucasville, Ohio, leads MVNU with an 8-1 record on the mound with a 2.56 ERA. The former Valley High School star has also posted a team-leading four shutouts. In 59.2 innings, he has struck out 36 batters and opponents are hitting just .210 against him.

Helm, a senior designated hitter from Centerville, Ohio, rounded out the NCCAA East Region Team selections. The former Dayton Christian High School standout is batting .385 with 10 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 44 runs scored, and 46 RBI.

The Cougars will return to action on Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. when they will take on the winner of the game between Judson (Ill.) College and Trinity International (Ill.) University at 8:00 p.m. at Bob Cene Park in Struthers, Ohio. The 10-team double elimination NCCAA National Tournament will continue until Saturday when the 2007 NCCAA national champion will be crowned.