Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Tracy Korth (Elgin, Ill./Larkin [Elgin C.C.]) and Andrea Zappia (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) each received First Team All-Horizon League honors, while Shannon Robinson (Toronto, Ontario/John Redmond) earned Second Team accolades and Randy Schneider was named Co-Coach of the Year as the league announced its award winners Wednesday evening.

Korth earned First Team accolades after hitting a Crusader-best .327 during Horizon League play.  The senior outfielder also smacked nine extra-base hits during Valpo’s 17 league contests and slugged .592 during league play, seventh-best in the league.  Korth has registered 12 doubles on the season and ranks among the top-60 in the nation in doubles per game.

One of the most distinguished pitchers in school history, Zappia broke Crusader single-season records for victories (19) and strikeouts (169) and career marks for strikeouts (438) and appearances (137) this year as a senior.  A two-time Horizon League Pitcher of the Week this season, Zappia went 10-4 with a 2.00 ERA in league play.  In 80.1 innings of work against league foes, she registered 84 strikeouts and allowed opponents to hit just .204 against her.

Robinson set a new program record for career hits (180) and has matched the Crusader career doubles record (38) as a senior.  In league play this year, the catcher has hit .308 with a team-best 11 runs scored while also registering nine RBIs.  On the defensive side of the ball, Robinson registered 126 putouts and 19 assists in Horizon League action without committing an error and threw out 10 of 19 would-be base stealers.

Schneider earns his first Coach of the Year honors at Valpo, sharing the accolade with Cleveland State coach Angie Nicholson.  In his fifth season with the Crusader program, Schneider guided Valpo to a program-record 30 victories this year and a second-place finish in the league standings.