Highlighting the list for the Cougars was senior third baseman Richey Burgos (left), who was selected as the NCCAA National Player of the Year and an NCCAA All-American. The former Puerto Rico Academy product from Ponce, Puerto Rico, finished the season batting .448 with 17 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 52 runs scored, 68 RBI, and a school-record 39 walks. It was the second straight season that Burgos was named to the NCCAA All-American Team.

Junior second baseman Josh Estep, a native of Gahanna, Ohio, joined Burgos on the NCCAA All-American Team as he was also selected for the honor for the second straight year. The former Gahanna Lincoln High School standout batted .384 with nine doubles, one triple, six home runs, 43 runs scored, and 48 RBI. He also committed just six errors in 266 fielding chances and helped MVNU turn a school-record 72 double plays. On the mound, Estep posted a 6-1 record with a 3.62 ERA and three saves as he struck out 44 batters in 54.2 innings of work with just 13 walks.

Head coach Keith Veale was honored as the NCCAA National Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his career as he led the Cougars to the sixth NCCAA national title in the program’s illustrious history. MVNU finished the 2008 season with a 39-21 overall record that also included runner-up finishes in both the NAIA Region IX Tournament and the NCCAA East Region Tournament.

In addition, three Cougars were selected to the NCCAA Scholar-Athlete Team which is limited to juniors and seniors with a 3.40 grade point average or higher. Senior pitchers Jason Barber and Dave Yost along with junior pitcher Jason Decker were tabbed for this honor. Barber posted a 3.61 as an Integrated Math Education major, Yost compiled a 3.50 as a Marketing major, and Decker holds a perfect 4.00 as Criminal Justice and Intercultural Studies double major.