Sophomore pitcher Phil Klein and junior shortstop Jacke Healey have been voted 2009 First-Team All-Horizon League by the league’s coaches, the conference office announced Monday.
Second baseman David Leon and utility player Eric Marzec earned second-team accolades, and Healey was honored on the all-newcomer team. Klein, Healey and Leon are first-time honorees, and Marzec was named to the second team for the second straight season.
Klein (Gahanna, Ohio) has been perhaps the Horizon League's most-improved player on his way to earning first-team honors. The sophomore right-hander went 5-1 with a 4.19 ERA, and he struck out 76 batters in 73 innings during the regular season. He was even better in league contests, posting a 4-0 record, a 3.83 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 56.1 innings. His 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings led all starting pitchers. Last season, Klein was 1-1 with a 11.09 ERA and pitched in just 18.2 innings.
Healey (Tunkhannock, Pa.) hit a team-high eight home runs during the regular season, and he also led the Penguins in runs scored, RBIs, doubles, slugging percentage and total bases. He batted .377 with runners in scoring position, and he was strong defensively with a .951 fielding percentage. Healey is also the first shortstop in school history to be named first-team all-conference. He is in his first year at YSU as a transfer from Potomac State College.
Leon (Hermitage, Pa.) closed out the regular season on a hot streak to earn the second-team nod. He hit safely in 10 of the final 12 games and batted .419 over the span. He finished the season with a .283 average, 24 runs scored, 15 RBIs, five steals and a .965 fielding percentage.
Marzec (Canton, Ohio) was the second-team utility man for the second straight season despite an injury keeping out of every game since April 18. On that date, Marzec was leading the Penguins in triples, home runs and slugging percentage in the middle of the order. On the mound, Marzec had two saves, a 2.40 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 15 innings out of the bullpen.
Wright State players earned three of the top awards as Jeff Mercer was named the Player of the Year, Quentin Cate was the Newcomer of the Year and Michael Schum was the Relief Pitcher of the Year. UIC's Adam Worthington was named the Pitcher of the Year, and Milwaukee skipper Scott Duffek was voted the Coach of the Year.
Courtesy: Youngstown State University
