Hays, Ks. — Fort Hays State had six players named to the All-MIAA Baseball Team for 2015. Earning second team honors were Kevin Czarnecki at designated hitter and Cooper Langley at first base, while Austin Unrein received third team honors as a utility player. Andre Vieyra (catcher), Gus Strunk (second base), and Connor Ross (outfield) all received honorable mention nods.
Czarnecki recorded 30 extra-base hits in his senior season, leading the team in batting average (.415), doubles (17), runs scored (53), slugging percentage (.737), total bases (126), and on-base percentage (.495), while driving in 41 runs. He ranked third in the MIAA in batting average, fourth in doubles, and fifth in total bases at the end of the regular season. Czarnecki finished the season on an impressive 21-game hitting streak and 37-consecutive game streak of reaching base. He also led the team in multi-hit games with 27. Czarnecki is now a two-time All-MIAA selection after earning an honorable mention nod at third base in 2014. He finished his career at FHSU with a .384 batting average, 126 hits, 25 doubles, 20 home runs, and 84 RBI.
Langley recorded a team-high 31 extra-base hits in his senior year, leading the team in home runs (17) and RBI (60). He ranked second in the conference in home runs and RBI at the end of the regular season. Langley recorded 17 multi-RBI and 16 multi-hit games. He recorded a perfect fielding percentage for the season, going errorless in 242 chances. Langley is also a two-time All-MIAA selection after earning honorable mention honors last year at designated hitter. He completed his Tiger career with a .318 batting average, 32 doubles, 22 home runs, and 90 RBI.
Unrein fulfilled his utility role by making 36 starts at third base, six at designated hitter, and five in left field, while also serving as the team’s closer on the mound in his junior season. He ranked second in hits (58) and RBI (45), and third in batting average (.326), home runs (11), and slugging percentage (.596) for FHSU in 2015, while recording 24 extra-base hits. On the mound, Unrein recorded three saves, while going 3-3 on the year with a 5.68 ERA. He averaged 1.1 strikeouts per inning or 9.5 per nine innings, striking out 20 in 19 innings of work. He held opponents to a .284 batting average for the season.
Vieyra had a solid season in his only year with Fort Hays State behind the plate. The senior catcher recorded a .271 batting average with 10 home runs, six doubles, and 33 RBI. He led the team in putouts with 249 and caught runners trying to steal on the season.
Strunk started all 47 games for FHSU at second base in 2015. The senior batted .308 with seven doubles and 14 RBI, while scoring 28 runs. He recorded 123 assists in the field and helped turn 29 double plays on the year.
After redshirting the 2014 season, Ross had a solid first year of action with the Tigers by ranking second on the team in batting average at .337. He recorded 24 extra-base hits (14 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs) and scored 39 times, serving as the Tigers’ leadoff hitter.
Below is the All-MIAA Baseball Team for 2015…
– Player of the Year: Dean Long, Sr., Emporia State
– Pitcher of the Year: Cody Hutchinson, Jr., Missouri Southern
– Freshman of the Year: Drew Quinones, Fr., Lindenwood
– Coach of the Year: Bryce Darnell, Missouri Southern
First Team All-MIAA…
Pitcher: Cody Hutchinson, Jr., Missouri Southern
Pitcher: Payton Walker, Jr., Missouri Southern
Pitcher: Ryan Helsley, So., Northeastern State
Relief Pitcher: Shawn Talkington, Sr., Emporia State
Catcher: Max Ayoub, Sr., Nebraska-Kearney
First Base: Evan Koehler, Jr., Emporia State
Second Base: Charles Sims, Jr., Northeastern State
Shortstop: Ross Wolfe, Sr., Southwest Baptist
Third Base: Dean Long, Sr., Emporia State^
Outfield: Justin Harris, Sr., Emporia State
Outfield: Anthony Pacheco, Jr., Nebraska-Kearney#
Outfield: Trevor Jones, Sr., Central Missouri
Designated Hitter: Jesse Rall, Jr., Missouri Southern
Utility: Chris Hoffman, Jr., Missouri Southern
Second Team All-MIAA…
Pitcher: Travis Hendry, Sr., Emporia State
Pitcher: Daulton Leiker, Jr., Central Oklahoma
Pitcher: Banks Born, Sr., Missouri Western
Relief Pitcher: Jake Kern, Jr., Northeastern State
Catcher: Nate Arnold, Sr., Pittsburg State
First Base: Cooper Langley, Sr., Fort Hays State
Second Base: Paul Johnson, Sr., Northwest Missouri
Shortstop: Nathan Prindle, Jr., Lindenwood
Third Base: Richie Gorski, So., Missouri Southern
Outfield: Ryan Degner, Sr., Missouri Western
Outfield: Wade Rothermich, Sr., Lindenwood
Outfield: Drew Quinones, Fr., Lindenwood
Designated Hitter: Kevin Czarnecki, Sr., Fort Hays State
Utility: Danny Droll, Sr., Nebraska-Kearney
Third Team All-MIAA…
Pitcher: Carlos D’Armas, Jr., Central Missouri
Pitcher: Aaron Smith, Sr., Nebraska-Kearney
Pitcher: Tyler Burgess, Sr., Missouri Southern
Relief Pitcher: Richard Peoples, So., Missouri Western
Catcher: David Gauntt, Sr., Washburn
First Base: Steven Garber, Sr., Northwest Missouri
Second Base: Levi Parker, Sr., Emporia State
Shortstop: Cody Childs, Sr., Missouri Western
Third Base: Kyle Carnahan, Jr., Washburn
Outfield: Andrew Kreiling, Sr., Pittsburg State
Outfield: Parker Gibson, Jr., Washburn
Outfield: Brandon Landanger, Sr., Nebraska-Kearney
Designated Hitter: Dillon Schroeder, Sr., Nebraska-Kearney
Utility: Austin Unrein, Sr., Fort Hays State
Honorable Mention…
Pitcher: Ricky Rivera, Central Missouri; Tyler House, Central Missouri; Jake Heissler, Central Missouri; Brendan Kleekamp, Lindenwood; A.J. Martinez, Missouri Western; Anthony Caenepeel, Northwest Missouri; Jake Stevenson, Pittsburg State; Mike Hefferan, Washburn,
Relief Pitcher: Nick Pettus, Missouri Southern; Carson Smith, Northwest Missouri; Ryan McKay, Pittsburg State; Tanner Kilmer, Washburn.
Catcher: Andre Vieyra, Fort Hays State; Mike Wilson, Lindenwood; Licio Tamburlini, Northeastern State.
First Base: Bennett Oliver, Central Missouri; Kaleb Davis, Lincoln; Cosimo Cannella, Missouri Western; Connor Messinger, Nebraska-Kearney; Preston Cash, Northeastern State; Andrew Vogelbaugh, Pittsburg State.
Second Base: Dusty Maas, Central Missouri; Gus Strunk, Fort Hays State; Jacob Bryant, Missouri Southern.
Shortstop: Jackson Schnurbusch, Central Missouri; Nick Gotta, Northwest Missouri; Erek Hackney, Pittsburg State; Riley Krane, Washburn.
Third Base: Tony Sandifer, Central Missouri; Ryan Light, Lindenwood; David Glaude, Missouri Western; Spencer Blacksher, Southwest Baptist.
Outfield: Derek Cornell, Central Missouri; Tyler Hatcher, Central Oklahoma; Dylan Tinkler, Central Oklahoma; Price Jacobs, Emporia State; Wade Hanna, Emporia State; Connor Ross, Fort Hays State; Wes Degener, Lindenwood; Trevor LaHonta, Missouri Western; Gabriel Wurth, Northeastern State; Luke Bordewick, Pittsburg State; Zach Snodgrass, Southwest Baptist; Connor Crimmons, Washburn.
Designated Hitter: Isaac Hellbush, Central Oklahoma; Tanner Triggs, Washburn.
Utility: Trevor Schnieders, Lincoln; Orencio Fisher, Missouri Western; Bryce Davenport, Northeastern State; Christian Binger, Southwest Baptist.