Travis McInerney	Matt Parks

McInerney and Parks have led the Cougars to a 140-77 overall record (.645 winning percentage) the past four years that includes a share of the 2007 American Mideast Conference South Division title and the 2008 National Christian College Athletic Association national championship. MVNU is currently 28-17 overall and 13-9 in the AMC this season.

McInerney, a catcher from Coshocton, Ohio, has played in 143 games in his career. The former Coshocton High School standout has posted a .342 career batting average with 18 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 39 runs scored, and 85 RBI. This season, McInerney is batting .318 in 45 games with career highs in doubles (11), triples (2), home runs (3), and RBI (36). He has committed just two errors behind the plate in 110 chances and has allowed just two passed balls.

"We have been extremely pleased with Travis’ decision to come to MVNU,” said coach Keith Veale. "He has really developed into a fine collegiate player. He has spent most of his career behind the plate catching, but he also played a good portion of his junior year at first base. It has been rewarding as a coach to see a player like Travis develop over his four years here at MVNU. I have watched him come in as a timid, quiet, and reserved player and evolve into a confident leader on our team. It is players like Travis who remind me of how important it is to have four-year players in our program.”

"Off the field, Travis has learned to take his academic pursuits seriously and excel,” Veale added. "He has exhibited a hunger spiritually, which has led to a faith in God that will provide a firm foundation for years ahead. When I think of Travis, I think of consistency. He has been a constant on our team for four years providing a stable foundation for our team on and off the field. I truly appreciate all he has done in this program over the past four years.”

Parks, an infielder from Mount Vernon, Ohio, ranks ninth in school history by playing in 193 games at either first or third base or in leftfield. The former Mount Vernon High School star has posted a .319 career batting average and ranks ninth in school history with 41 doubles. He has also recorded six triples, 11 home runs, 109 RBI, and 132 runs scored. He holds the school record by being hit by a pitch 48 times and he ranks fifth in career putouts with 804 including a school-record 460 putouts in 2008 when he also played in a school record-tying 60 games. Parks is a two-time AMC Honorable Mention selection and a two-time ESPN The Magazine® Academic All-District Second Team pick with a 3.88 grade point average.

"Matt has been a four-year starter for us,” said Veale. "As a freshman, he came in and found a home in leftfield - a position he had never player - and took advantage of an opportunity to get in the lineup and handled the assignment very well. He found another home in an unfamiliar position at first base as a sophomore and again he adapted incredibly well to the right side of the infield to help fill a team need and get in the lineup on a regular basis. He has moved back into more familiar territory at third base the past two years. He is a solid defender at third and has hit in the middle of our lineup for most of his career.”

"Along with his teammates, I have appreciated Matt’s upbeat spirit on our team,” said Veale. "He is an encourager who will seek out a teammate to give an uplifting word and help in any way he can. Sometimes it is a challenge to live up to expectations on and off the field playing college baseball in your home town, but Matt has been an outstanding representative of our program on and off the field. He has lived out his faith in front of his family and teammates on a daily basis. He has been outstanding in the classroom, a leader on our baseball team, and highly regarded on our campus. I have coached him for many years and have found him to be a talented player and a team player, and he has played with a youthful passion and excitement because he enjoys coming to the park every day.”

The Cougars will enter Friday’s doubleheader header looking to sweep the AMC-leading Bears of Shawnee State to help secure one of the three spots in the AMC Tournament. MVNU is currently tied for third place with Notre Dame College, but the Falcons have the tiebreaker over the Cougars due to winning the head-to-head meetings this year. The AMC Tournament will get under way next week at the top seed.