Kulavic Earns Baseball Writers Region Honor

May 27, 2008

Illinois Wesleyan sophomore pitcher Brent Kulavic was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Central Region Pitcher of the Year and Wheaton sophomore shortstop Brian Kolb was named the NCBWA Central Region Player of the Year on May 27.

Kulavic took home College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Pitcher of the Year honors, was named a D3Baseball.com honorable mention All-American and was an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) first team All-Central Region selection. He was 6-1 this season with a 1.82 ERA, averaging 8.95 strikeouts per nine innings and a .205 opponents batting average. He received 52 points on five-of-13 first-place ballots.
Wartburg's Aaron Saeugling was second in the voting with 43 points on six-of-13 first-place votes while Carthage's Jacob Husing was third with 29 points.

Kolb helped lead the Thunder to their first-ever appearance in the CCIW tournament this season, batting .527 with 45 runs scored, 19 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 52 RBI, an .808 slugging percentage and 25-of-25 stolen bases. Kolb earned CCIW Player of the Year honors in 2008 for his performance. He collected 93 points in the voting on 10-of-13 first place ballots.
Carthage first baseman Jason Acevedo was second in the voting with 76 points while Concordia (Chicago) catcher J.D. Rotzoll was third with 55 points.