Monday, May 19, 2008

            Valparaiso University outfielder Zach Rodeghero (New Lenox, Ill./Providence Catholic H.S.) has been named to the Horizon League’s First Team while second baseman John Giusti (Coventry, R.I./Coventry H.S.) has been selected to the Second Team the league office announced Monday evening.  In addition, relief pitcher Steve Godawa (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove H.S.) has been named to the All-Newcomer Team.

            Rodeghero leads the Horizon League in hitting at .428 and has been among the top-10 nationally throughout the season.  His 86 hits this year set a new Crusader single season mark and his 20 doubles entering the league tournament are one shy of the school record.  He leads the Crusaders with 47 runs batted in and has a .597 slugging percentage to go along with a .494 on base percentage.  The fifth-year senior is one of 100 players nationally named to the Wallace Watch for the national Player of the Year.

            Giusti is hitting .390 on the season including a .510 mark in league play.  Since returning from a hand injury, the senior is hitting nearly .500 in his last 20 games.  In 33 games Giusti has scored 22 times posted a .445 on base percentage and driven in 12 runs.  He has a .554 league on base percentage and a .667 slugging percentage against Horizon League foes.

            Godawa allowed just one run in 11 appearances in conference action for the Brown and Gold posting a 0.84 earned run average in 10.2 innings of work.  Horizon League opponents hit just .128 against the freshman righthander while he fanned seven.  On the season, he has a 4.12 ERA and a 2-2 record in a team-leading 24 appearances.  He has struck out 16 in 24.0 innings of work.

            Valparaiso (18-33, 8-13 Horizon League) will begin tournament play on Tuesday afternoon with a 2 p.m. CDT contest against Butler in Niles, Ohio.  The winner will face Youngstown State on Wednesday afternoon.