Eastern baseball takes Region 2 Championship
(Press Release 06-22-10)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

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The Eastern Oklahoma State College baseball team (37-20) won its first Region 2 Tournament Championship this spring since 2001 making “2010 a great year for the Mountaineer baseball program,” Eastern Coach Aric Thomas said.

“Winning the Region 2 Championship was a great accomplishment and we’ve now been ranked in the top 15 nationally three of the past four seasons,” Thomas said.

“These players have continued to build on our tradition and help keep our program as one of the nation’s best.”

The Wilburton Mountaineers entered the last day of the conference tournament as the only undefeated conference team in the double elimination tournament. Eastern fell to Connors 13-3 in the first game and then playing the “if necessary game,” the Mountaineers knocked off Connors 12-8. With the win, the Mountaineers were selected to host the South Central District Tournament the following week. The Mountaineers also improved to 5-2 against Connors this year with 3 of those wins when Connors was ranked first in the nation.

Following tournament action, the Region 2 All Tournament Team was announced. Four Mountaineer players were named to the team and Head Coach, Aric Thomas received the Region 2 Coach of the Year award. Pitchers Jesse Baird (2-0, 2.77 era, 13 ip, 8 K’s) and Nate Coronado (1-0, 1.13 era, 8 ip, 1 run, 7 K’s) were named to the team. Outfielder Ben Kozma (.429 ba, 4 runs, 2 sb’s) and infielder Chris Munoz (.368, 4 runs, 2 sb’s) were also named to the team.

The 9th ranked Eastern baseball team (37-22) lost its first two games in South Central District Tournament play to finish their season. In the first game, the Mountaineers lost to Crowder College 11-2 and in the second game, Delgado Community College knocked off Eastern 13-6. Eastern finished the year ranked 9th by the NJCAA and 14th by Perfect Game.

Later player Houston Slemp was named Honorable Mention All-American by NJCAA and then drafted by SanDiego Padres. He was also awarded the NJCAA Rawlings Big Stick Award.

A summary of team and individual Awards for the Eastern Baseball Team follows:

TEAM ACCOLADES

-Eastern finishes the season Ranked #9 (NJCAA) and #14 (Perfect Game)
-Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-Champions (14-6 Conference Record)
-Region 2 Tournament Champions (4-1 Tournament Record)
-37-22 Final Record - Played 38 games against opponents that were ranked during the 2010 season.

INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES

-ALL REGION 2 TEAM
1st TEAM – Infield - Chris Munoz, Outfield - Houston Slemp, Pitcher - Tyler Sparks
2nd TEAM – Infield - Cameron Green, Pitcher - Joe Spring
Honorable Mention – Catcher - Sam King, Infield - Jordan Mings, Outfield - Ben Kozma, Pitcher - Jesse Baird, Pitcher - Nate Coronado
-REGION 2 RAWLINGS GOLD GLOVE TEAM
Defensive Player of the Year – Catcher - Joe Spring
Catcher - Joe Spring, 1st Base - Cameron Green, Shortstop - Chris Munoz, Outfield - Houston Slemp

-REGION 2 ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
Defensive Player of the Year - Joe Spring
Infield - Chris Munoz, Outfield - Ben Kozma, Pitcher - Jesse Baird, Pitcher - Nate Coronado, Coach of the Year - Aric Thomas

-ALL SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT TEAM
Outfield - Houston Slemp, Infield - Chris Munoz, Pitcher - Tyler Sparks

-ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
Distinguished Academic All Americans – Houston Slemp (OF), Ben Kozma (OF)
Academic All Americans – Cameron Green (INF), Joe Spring (C/RHP), Tyler Vann (LHP)

Caption info:
Eastern players named to the Region 2 All-Tournament team included Jesse Baird, Owasso; Nate Coronado, CA; Coach Aric Thomas, Chris Munoz, Downey, CA and Ben Kozma, Owasso.