"Seven Cougars Named to NCCAA East Region Baseball Team"

written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

Andy Heimbach	Dave Byard	Jeff Lavin	Chris Stanifer

Chris Iceman	Scott Crawford	Mark Coulter	Keith Veale

   Seven members of the Mount Vernon Nazarene College baseball team have been selected to the 1999 National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Team.

   Andy Heimbach, a junior pitcher from Wheelersburg, Ohio, headlined the list as he was named the NCCAA East Region Player 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 NCCAA East Region 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 one of the catchers on the NCCAA East Region 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.

   Chris Stanifer, a senior outfielder from Adrian, Michigan, was named as one of four outfielders to the NCCAA East Region 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 NCCAA East Region 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, was selected to the NCCAA East Region Team 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.

   Mark Coulter, a freshman from Lewistown, Pennsylvania, rounded out the list of Cougars on the NCCAA East Region Team at the designated hitter position. 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.

   Head coach Keith Veale was also chosen as the 1999 NCCAA East Region Coach of the Year as he guided the team to their sixth consecutive 30-win season and their seventh overall in his ten years at MVNC. Veale has an overall record of 328-148 (.689) during that span.

   The Cougars are currently 32-14 overall and will be the top seed in the 1999 NCCAA East Region Tournament that will begin on Thursday at MVNC. Geneva College and Malone College will square off at 11:00 a.m., and the Cougars will play at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.