May 6, 2010

Rio's Schunk and Robertson win top MSC awards

Campbellsville, Ky. --- University of Rio Grande senior third baseman/pitcher Tyler Schunk earned Mid South Conference Player of the Year honors and freshman left-handed pitcher Ryan Robertson was tabbed MSC Freshman of the Year. Those two honors highlighted an all-conference team that was dominated by RedStorm players.

Schunk, a native of Cincinnati, OH, had one of the best individual seasons in Rio Grande baseball history. He led the MSC in home runs with 12 and was tied in RBI's with 67. His .411 batting average was second in the league.

He was just as impressive on the mound, posting a 9-2 record and a 2.13 earned run average. His ERA number was second in the conference. Schunk was also 1^st All-MSC.

Robertson, a native of Waverly, OH, came to Rio Grande with a lot of expectations and he has been as advertised. His 11 wins set a new school record and led the conference. Robertson also landed on All-MSC First Team

Also making first team was senior catcher Tyler Plumpton (Peterborough, ONT) and junior shortstop Brad Konrad (Maumee, OH). Plumpton batted .398 with seven home runs and 41 RBI's while Konrad hit .353 with three homers and 36 RBI's. He led the league in stolen bases with 30.

Junior leftfielder Michael Lynch (Cleveland, OH), senior designated Chris Mahon (Hamilton, OH), senior centerfielder Ryan Yakura (Pickering, ONT) and junior first baseman Francisco Ramirez (Columbus, OH) were all selected honorable mention All-MSC.

Lynch had an outstanding season, seizing the left field job and never relinquishing it thanks to a .394 batting average. He hit four long balls and drove in 45 runs. Mahon posted numbers of .388 with one home run and 32 RBI's. Yakura batted at a .379 clip for the season with three home runs and 38 RBI's. He also swiped 25 bases and played a sterling centerfield. Ramirez started the season slowly, but as the weather warmed up, so did his bat. He finished the season with a .349 batting average to go along with two home runs and 44 RBI's.

"I think our success as the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament was important in the recognition that our players received," said Rio Grande head coach Brad Warnimont. "I'm proud of them, but we still have some work to do."

"These honors are a testament to the kids, nobody works harder than us," Warnimont added. "They are very deserving."

Warnimont is hopeful that the post-season accolades will not stop with just conference honors. "I hope we can get some All-Americans as well," he said. "I hope there are still some accolades to be had." 

Rio out-shined all the others MSC schools when it came to academic honors. Of the 45 baseball players within the Mid-South Conference who received all-academic honors, Rio had more than any other team with nine.

Konrad, Plumpton, and Mahon added academic awards to their on-field honors. They were joined by sophomores Josh Allen (Lebanon, OH), Ryan Chapman (Racine, OH), Jacob Cooke (South Charleston, OH), Richard Hernandez (Beavercreek, OH) and juniors Dominick McAllister (Columbus, OH) and Desmond Sullivan (Scarborough, ONT).

Of all the post-season honors, Warnimont was most proud of what those players accomplished in the classroom. "This was the most impressive thing for me," he said. "For the time these players devote to improving as players, it is a credit to them to earn high honors in academics as well." 

Rio takes on Georgetown College on Thursday at Campbellsville in the Mid-South Conference Tournament Final Four.