Eight members of the 1998 Mount Vernon Nazarene College baseball team were recently honored by the National Christian College Athletic Association for their performances this season that helped the Cougars to a 37-12 overall record and a third place finish at the NCCAA National Tournament.
Andy Heimbach and Matt Corona were selected to the NCCAA All-American First Team for their efforts. Heimbach, a sophomore pitcher from Wheelersburg, Ohio, led the MVNC pitching staff with an 11-2 record, five shutouts, 11 complete games, and a 2.16 earned run average. In 91 2/3 innings pitched, he walked just 30 batters while fanning 84. Corona, a freshman designated hitter from Bucyrus, Ohio, led the team with a .415 batting average. He was 44-for-106 with five doubles, three triples, three homeruns, 20 runs scored, and 21 runs batted in.
Chris Iceman, Brian Sheets, Chris Stanifer, Sean Barrett, J.K. Waers, and Dave Byard were also selected as NCCAA Honorable Mention All-Americans. Iceman, a junior first baseman from Lucas, Ohio, batted .353 (60-for-170) with 10 doubles, three homeruns, 26 runs scored, and 33 RBI. Sheets, a sophomore third baseman from Vermilion, Ohio, batted .388 (66-for-170) with a team-high 17 doubles and 46 RBI. He also added three homeruns and 40 runs scored.
Stanifer, a junior outfielder from Adrian, Michigan, batted .372 (68-for-183). He led the team in hits (68), runs scored (61), and stolen bases (27). He also recorded 10 doubles, one triple, three homeruns, and 26 RBI. Barrett, a senior outfielder from Brookville, Ohio, batted .313 (51-for-163) with a team-high nine homeruns. He also added 13 doubles, 35 RBI, and 36 runs scored.
Waers, a senior catcher from Byesville, Ohio, batted .354 (46-for-130) with 14 doubles, two triples, six homeruns, and 24 RBI. He also threw out nine of the 16 runners who tried to steal on him. Byard, a sophomore pitcher from Byesville, Ohio, posted a 9-2 record with two shutouts, 10 complete games, and a 2.21 ERA. In 81 1/3 innings of work, he walked 29 batters and struck out 44.