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Scots baseball earns Pitcher, Coach of the Year
Release Date:
May 14, 2009
MONMOUTH, Ill. —
A flurry at the finish by the Monmouth College baseball team
earned the Fighting Scots two of the Midwest Conference’s top
awards.
Head coach Roger Sander earned his league-record ninth
South Division Coach of the Year award and Robbie Hinkle
(Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) was named the division’s Pitcher of the
Year. The Scots won their 31st division crown this season after
downing Grinnell in a one-game playoff to break a regular
season-ending tie. Sander has compiled a 288-246-1 mark in 16 years
at the helm.
Hinkle, a sophomore right-hander, compiled a 5-1 record after
pitching just 3.1 innings as a freshman. He threw three complete
game shutouts and recorded a team-best 2.89 ERA and 48 strikeouts.
Hinkle held opponents to a .230 batting average and set the Monmouth
consecutive scoreless innings record, tossing 31.1 straight innings
without allowing a run.
Seven other Scots joined Hinkle on the
All-Midwest Conference team. Senior Matt Bourne (Bloomington,
Ill./Central Catholic), sophomore Billy Herrin (Galesburg,
Ill./Galesburg) and freshmen Chad Kamm (Metamora,
Ill./Metamora) and Caleb Ruyle (Jacksonville, Ill./Routt)
were named to the first team. Senior Kevin Sashko (Mundelein,
Ill./Mundelein), junior Tom Shaver (Mundelein,
Ill./Mundelein) and freshman Terry Davis (Bloomington,
Ill./Bloomington) were named to the second team.
Bourne, a left-handed pitcher, came on strong
in his final campaign to earn his first all-league honors. He posted
a 6-2 record with a 3.34 ERA. His 64.2 innings pitched led the team
in that category and his 39 strikeouts was second.
The fleet-footed Herrin earned his second
all-conference honor as an outfielder. He led the team with 13
steals and his .341 average was fourth-best for the Scots.
Kamm slugged his way to a team-best .441
average in his inaugural season. The first baseman’s average is the
highest for a Monmouth freshman since Jason Salmon hit .455 in 2003.
The converted third baseman, who played in all 33 games, also led
the team with 33 runs scored and his .992 fielding average was the
highest among regular position players.
Ruyle earned his all-conference honor as the
Scots’ regular third baseman. He hit .333 in 29 games and was in the
top five in six offensive categories.
A steady performer throughout his career,
Sashko earned his first all-conference selection in his final year.
The shortstop’s .311 average was just below his career-best .333 as
a sophomore. He tied for the team lead with five home runs and his
27 RBIs were second on the team.
Shaver, a second baseman, made the most of his
.215 average. The consummate team player, he tied for the team lead
with eight sacrifice bunts and was fifth with 18 runs scored.
Davis split time between right and left field,
but was still among the team leaders with a .952 fielding
percentage. He led the team with five homers and 38 RBIs. Davis was
second on the team with 30 runs scored and his .362 average and .559
slugging percentage were both the third-best marks for the Scots.
The Scots rebounded from a 2-8 start and ran to
a 14-9 record after March 21. Monmouth won their eighth MWC South
Division crown in nine years and have made 10 straight appearances
at the conference postseason tournament.
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