Levi Curry	Josh Estep	Richey Burgos

The Cougars, who earned a share of the American Mideast Conference South Division title with a 19-5 conference mark and advanced to the NAIA Region IX Tournament championship game for the eighth straight year, landed six players on the 17-player NAIA Region IX Team - twice as many as the next two closest teams, Ohio Dominican University and Geneva College, who each had three players selected. MVNU head coach Keith Veale was also selected as the NAIA Region IX Coach of the Year by his peers for his efforts in leading the team to its 12th conference title.

Levi Curry, a junior left-handed pitcher from Mount Vernon, Ohio, was the top pitcher selected to the NAIA Region IX Team. 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.

Josh Estep, Richey Burgos, and Ross Yoder were also named to the NAIA Region IX Team as three-fourths of the Cougars’ infield was honored at their respective positions. Eddie Smith was also named to the NAIA Region IX Team in the outfield as the second player selected at that position, and Mike Laughlin joined Curry as two of the four pitchers on the NAIA Region IX Team.

Estep, a sophomore shortstop from Gahanna, Ohio, leads MVNU with a .418 batting average, 58 RBI, and 16 doubles. The former Gahanna Lincoln High School standout has also registered one triple, seven home runs, and 50 runs scored. He was selected as the fifth infielder on the NAIA Region IX Team behind Geneva shortstop Matt Colella who was the NAIA Region IX Player of the Year.

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.

Ross Yoder	Eddie Smith	Mike Laughlin

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.

The Cougars, who are 37-14 overall and received votes in the final NAIA poll, will return to action at the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament that will be held in Struthers, Ohio, with games starting on Wednesday at Bob Cene Park. MVNU is the top seed in the nine-team double elimination tournament and will play the winner of the game between Judson (Ill.) College and Trinity International (Ill.) University.