Angel, McInerney Named IWU’s Baseball co-“Most Valuable”

May 30, 2008

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Seniors Ricky Angel and Tim McInerney were chosen as the co-winners of the “Most Valuable Player” honor for the 2008 Illinois Wesleyan baseball team.

Angel (Glen Ellyn, Ill., Glenbard West HS) batted .351 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs and a school-record 67 runs batted in. He finished his career as IWU’s all-time leader in hits (260), runs (157), runs batted in (189), total bases (410), times hit by pitch (36), intentional walks (10) and at bats (680).

McInerney (River Forest, Ill., Oak Park-River Forest HS) was second on the team with a .360 batting average and scored a team-high 58 runs, the second most in an Illinois Wesleyan season. His 18 doubles is tied for fifth most in an IWU season.

Sophomore righthander Brent Kulavic, who was the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin “Pitcher of the Year,” was the Titans’ “Most Valuable Pitcher.”

Kulavic (Springfield, Ill., Pleasant Plains HS) was 6-1 with a 1.82 earned run average. He struck out 59 in 59 1/3 innings, had four complete games and was the Central region hurler of the season.

The Titans finished with a 33-11 overall mark, won the CCIW regular season phase with an 18-3 record, won the league’s postseason tournament and played in the NCAA Division III regional.

Kulavic and freshman catcher Pat Garvey (Grayslake, Central HS) shared the “Top Newcomer” award, while sophomore shortstop Mike Cunningham (River Forest, Ill., Oak Park-River Forest HS) was tabbed as the “Best Defensive Player.”

Garvey hit .315 with 12 doubles and 24 runs batted in. His only home run was a grand slam that capped a thrilling comeback win over Wheaton in the CCIW tournament first round.

Cunningham batted .327 with seven doubles and a triple. He was involved in 24 double plays at shortstop, had a team-high 135 assists with a .934 fielding percentage in 197 chances.

Junior third baseman Tim Marzec (Evergreen Park, St. Rita HS) was chosen as the “Most Improved Player” and junior outfielder Bob Huppert (Gibson City, Ill., GCMS HS) earned the “Titan Award,” which is given for spirit, dedication and competitive attitude.

Marzec batted ,347 with seven doubles, two home runs and drove home 19. He had a team-leading 12 stolen bases.

Huppert hit .278 in limited action, playing in 23 games. Two of his five hits were home runs and he had eight RBI.

Head coach Dennis Martel, whose 19-year record is 540-331-3, awarded letters to 24 players. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS - Ricky Angel, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (Glenbard West HS); Tim McInerney, River Forest, Ill. (Oak Park-River Forest HS); Nate Rittenberry, Gurnee, Ill. (Mundelein Carmel HS)

JUNIORS - Matt Aronson, LaGrange, Ill. (St. Ignatius HS); Jesse Foster, Homewood, Ill. (Homewood-Flossmoor); Joe Froelich, River Forest, Ill. (Oak Park-River Forest HS); Kevin Goshorn, New Lenox, Ill. (Lincoln Way Central); Bob Huppert, Gibson City, Ill. (GCMS HS); Tim Marzec, Evergreen Park, Ill. (St. Rita HS)

SOPHOMORES – Matt Caruso, Monee, Ill. (Marian Catholic); Mike Cunningham, River Forest, Ill. (Oak Park-River Forest HS); Pat Kirchhofer, Wheaton, Ill. (North HS); Brent Kulavic, Springfield, Ill. (Pleasant Plains HS); Kraig Ladd, Shelbyville, Ill. (HS); Sean McCreary, Waukegan, Ill. (Mundelein Carmel HS); Casey McIntosh, Columbia, Mo. (Hickman HS); Brett Moore, Bloomington, Ill. (HS); Mike Morrissey, Grayslake, Ill. (Mundelein Carmel HS); Geoff Page, Bourbonnais, Ill. (Bradley-Bourbonnais); Marty Roche, Alsip, Ill. (Brother Rice HS); Alex Tosi, Peoria, Ill. (Dunlap HS)

FRESHMEN – Pat Garvey, Grayslake, Ill. (Central HS); John Kwiatkowski, Northbrook, Ill. (Glenbrook North HS); Jason Pankau, Elmhurst, Ill. (York HS)

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206