Monday, May 18, 2009

Valparaiso University catcher Matt Lenski (Milwaukee, Wis./Marquette University H.S.) has been named to the All-Horizon League First Team while outfielder Dan DeBruin (Combined Locks, Wis./Kimberly H.S.) received Second Team All-League honors the conference has announced.  In addition, outfielders Steven Scoby (Delton, Mich./Kellogg H.S.) and Kyle Gaedele (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows H.S.) were each named to the Horizon League’s All-Newcomer Team.

Lenski leads the Horizon League in numerous statistical categories this season, including holding a 35-point lead in the batting race.  The senior enters the Horizon League Tournament hitting .420 while also leading the league with a .497 on base percentage.  Lenski has 42 runs batted in, fifth in the conference, and is tied for seventh with 15 doubles.  He also ranks second on the Crusader squad with six homers this year.  The Valpo backstop also notched a .986 fielding percentage defensively.

DeBruin hit .290 during the regular season for the Brown and Gold and is tied for seventh in the Horizon League with 37 runs scored this season.  The fifth-year senior has 10 doubles and 23 runs batted in to go along with a .355 on base percentage.  DeBruin also is tied for sixth in the league with 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts on the year.

Scoby ranks second on the Valpo squad hitting .301 in 47 games.  Playing leftfield, he drove in 20 runs and recorded a .364 on base percentage for the Crusaders while stealing five bases.  The freshman had a team-long 12 game hitting streak this season as well.

Gaedele started 47 of the 48 games for the Crusaders as a freshman in centerfield.  He hit .285 during the regular season with 12 doubles, second most on the team, and 19 runs batted in.  He walked a team-leading 24 times, ranking fifth in the Horizon League in that category.  He also stole eight bases in 10 attempts.

Valparaiso (27-22, 12-11) is the fourth seed in this week’s Horizon League Baseball Championships which begin Tuesday in Lorain, Ohio.  The Crusaders will meet fifth-seeded, and tournament host, Cleveland State (20-29, 12-13) on Wednesday in their first game of the double-elimination event at The Pipe Yard.  First pitch is slated for 10 a.m. CDT with all the action carried live through the Valpo website at www.valpoathletics.com.