Horizon League Announces Postseason Baseball Honors

INDIANAPOLIS – Wright State senior outfielder Tristan Moore was named the 2012 Horizon League Baseball Player of the Year in voting of the league’s head coaches. Moore was one of six specialty award winners, also receiving recognition was Valparaiso’s Kevin Wild (Pitcher of the Year), Moore’s teammate Michael Schum (Relief Pitcher of the Year), Butler’s Jimmy Risi and Valparaiso’s Kyle Wormington (Co-Newcomers of the Year) and Crusader Head Coach Tracy Woodson (Coach of the Year).

Moore ranked as one of the best hitters in the league in 2012 as he ranked in the top-five in almost every major offensive category. He paced the conference in slugging percentage (.547), runs scored (53), RBIs (50). His .364 batting average was second in the conference, while his .434 on-base percentage and seven home runs both ranked fourth. He is the fifth different Raider in the last six years to be named Player of the Year.

Wild was named Pitcher of the Year after posting a stellar 2.87 ERA for the season, including a 2.39 mark in conference games. The senior right-hander threw 97.1 innings this season (second in conference), while striking out 56 (third) and holding opposing batters to just a .241 batting average (third)

Schum was named Relief Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season after leading the conference in saves with 12. The senior right-hander made 28 appearances for the Raiders this season and sported a 3.19 ERA, while striking out 39 batters in 42.1 innings of work.

Risi and Wormington shared Co-Newcomer of the Year honors. It was the first time in either school’s history (Butler and Valparaiso) that they had a player earn the Newcomer of the Year honor. Risi joined the Bulldogs as a junior college transfer and immediately made an impact for the Bulldogs by leading the team and conference in home runs with 11. He also led the Bulldogs and ranked third in the conference with 45 RBIs. Wormington was the third starter for the regular season champion Crusaders. The junior finished his first year at Valpo with a 3.24 ERA, fourth in the conference, in 94.1 innings of work, third in the league.

Woodson earned his first Coach of the Year honor after guiding Valparaiso to its first-ever Horizon League regular-season title.  The Crusaders posted a 32-22 overall record, including a 22-8 conference mark, earning the top seed in the 2012 Horizon League Championship.  

 Moore and Wild are joined on the All-League First team by Milwaukee’s Paul Hoenecke,Luke Meeteer and Cale Tassi, Valparaiso’s Spencer Mahoney and Tanner Vavra, Wright State’s Ryan Ashe, Corey Davis, Jake Hibberd and Youngstown State’s Jeremy Banks and Drew Dosch.

Hibberd’s First-Team All-League selection is the third consecutive nod for the senior first baseman. He becomes just the 11th player in conference history to earn All-League First-Team honors three times in their career.

The Horizon League Baseball Championship begins on Wednesday, May 23, at Les Miller Field in Chicago, Ill., hosted by UIC.  The winner of the six-team double-elimination tournament will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. All championship games can be seen live on the Horizon League Network (www.HorizonLeague.com).

2012 Horizon League Baseball Honors

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tristan Moore (Wright State, Sr., OF)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Kevin Wild (Valparaiso, Sr., RHP)
RELIEF PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Michael Schum (Wright State, Sr., RHP)
CO-NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR: Jimmy Risi (Butler, Jr., 1B) & Kyle Wormington (Valparaiso, Jr., RHP)
COACH OF THE YEAR: Tracy Woodson (Valparaiso)

FIRST TEAM ALL-LEAGUE:
P -- Kevin Wild (Valparaiso, Sr.)
P -- Cale Tassi (Milwaukee, Jr.)
C -- Corey Davis (Wright State, Sr.)
1B -- Jake Hibberd (Wright State, Sr.)
2B -- Tanner Vavra (Valparaiso, Jr.)
SS -- Spencer Mahoney (Valparaiso, Fr.)
3B -- Drew Dosch (Youngstown State, So.)
OF -- Ryan Ashe (Wright State, Sr.)
OF -- Tristan Moore (Wright State, Sr.)
OF -- Luke Meeteer (Milwaukee, Fr.)
DH -- Jeremy Banks (Youngstown State, Sr.)
UT -- Paul Hoenecke (Milwaukee, Sr.)

SECOND TEAM ALL-LEAGUE:
P -- Tyler Deetjen (Valparaiso, Sr.)         
P -- Jordan Marker (Wright State, Sr.)
C -- Will Fadness (Milwaukee, Jr.)
1B -- Jimmy Risi (Butler, Jr.)
1B -- Alex Grunenwald (UIC, Jr.)
2B -- Michael Porcaro (Milwaukee, Fr.)
SS -- Justin Kopale (Wright State, Jr.)
3B -- Elliott Martin (Valparaiso, Jr.)
OF -- Chris Manning (Valparaiso, So.)
OF -- Will Hagel (Valparaiso, Sr.)
OF -- Mike Hoscheit (Butler, Sr.)
OF -- Jon Ryan (UIC, So.)
DH -- Pat Gelwicks (Butler, Jr.)
UT -- Andrew Bain (Valparaiso, Jr.)

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM:
P -- Kyle Wormington (Valparaiso, Jr.)
P -- Brian Evak (UIC, Fr.)
C -- Will Fadness (Milwaukee, Jr.)
C -- Radley Haddad (Butler, Jr.)
1B -- Jimmy Risi (Butler, Jr.)
1B -- Alex Grunenwald (UIC, Jr.)
2B -- Tanner Vavra (Valparaiso, Jr.)
2B -- Michael Porcaro (Milwaukee, Fr.)
SS -- Alex Lee (UIC, So.)
SS -- Spencer Mahoney (Valparaiso, Fr.)
3B -- Elliott Martin (Valparaiso, Jr.)
3B -- Michael Timm (Wright State, Fr.)
OF – Luke Meeteer (Milwaukee, Fr.)

Note: Ties are not broken.
Note: The All-League Teams ARE position specific
Note: The All-Newcomer Team is NOT position specific