"Eight Cougars Receive AMC Baseball Honors"

written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

Andy Heimbach	Dave Byard	Jeff Lavin	Chris Stanifer

Chris Iceman	Scott Crawford	Joel Laslo	Mark Coulter

   Eight members of the Mount Vernon Nazarene College baseball team were honored when the American Mideast Conference announced its awards recently.

   Andy Heimbach, a junior pitcher from Wheelersburg, Ohio, headlined the list as he was selected the AMC’s Player and Pitcher of the Year. The former All-Ohioan at Wheelersburg High School has posted an 11-1 record this season with six shutouts, one perfect game, and a fine 1.12 earned run average. In 72 1/3 innings of work, Heimbach has struck out 116 batters and issued just 11 walks.

   Dave Byard, a junior from Byesville, Ohio, joined Heimbach as one of the four pitchers selected to the AMC First Team. The Meadowbrook High School product has compiled an 8-1 record with three shutouts, one no-hitter, and a 1.60 ERA. Byard has recorded 79 strikeouts in 73 innings and issued 23 walks.

   Jeff Lavin, a junior from Mercer, Pennsylvania, was selected as the AMC First Team catcher and named to the AMC All-Academic Team for his efforts this season. The former West Middlesex High School standout is batting .342 with seven doubles, one home run, and 31 runs batted in. Lavin also has a .989 fielding percentage with just four errors and one passed ball in 357 chances. A Biology major, Lavin carries a 3.657 grade point average.

   Chris Stanifer, a senior outfielder from Adrian, Michigan, was named as one of four outfielders to the AMC First Team. The former Adrian High School star leads the Cougars with a .456 batting average, 78 hits, 55 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases. Stanifer also has 25 RBI, 15 doubles, one triple, one home run, and four outfield assists.

   Chris Iceman, a senior from Lucas, Ohio, was tabbed as the AMC First Team first baseman for his efforts this season. The former Lucas High School product has posted a .373 batting average with 14 doubles, four home runs, 32 runs scored, and a team-high 43 RBI. Iceman also has a .983 fielding percentage with only six errors in 356 chances.

   Scott Crawford, a sophomore from Prospect, Ohio, rounds out MVNC’s six players on the AMC First Team as he was selected at the shortstop position. The former River Valley High School star has compiled a .393 batting average with 15 doubles, a team-high three triples, four home runs, 37 RBI, 49 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases.

   Joel Laslo, a sophomore third baseman from Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Mark Coulter, a freshman designated hitter from Lewistown, Pennsylvania, each received Honorable Mention from the AMC coaches for their efforts this season. Laslo, a Mount Vernon High School graduate, has a .373 batting average with six doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 29 RBI, while Coulter, a Lewistown Area High School product, leads the team with five homers and has posted a .364 batting average with nine doubles and 29 RBI.

   The Cougars are currently 32-14 overall and finished regular-season action in the AMC with a 15-5 conference mark. The team also finished second in the AMC Tournament. MVNC now awaits word as to whether or not they will receive the third and final at-large berth into the NAIA Great Lakes Region Tournament.