Chafin Named MAC Freshman of the Year; Four Others Named All-Conference
5/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CLEVELAND - Kent State freshman pitcher Andrew Chafin was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year in a vote by the league coaches Tuesday (May 19). He was also the lone KSU player to be named to the first team all-conference list. Fifth-year senior Greg Rohan (first base), redshirt junior Jared Humphreys (outfield), junior Jon Pokorny (relief pitcher) and freshman Jimmy Rider (second base) were named second team All-MAC.
Chafin became the third Kent State player to win MAC Freshman of the Year honors and the first since Ryan Beeney in 1992.
Chafin is 4-1 this year with eight saves. He has a 1.26 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 35.2 innings pitched. One of his biggest outings of the year came against nationally-ranked Ohio State (April 15), where he threw the final 1.1 innings to preserve the Goldeb Flashes 8-7 win over the Buckeyes in Columbus. He also recorded seven strikeouts in three innings pitched for the three-inning save against Northern Illinois (April 3).
Rohan was named to the All-MAC team for the third year in the row. He finished third on the team with a .346 average and led the Golden Flashes in home runs (12) and hits (71). He also finished second on the team with 53 RBI. In the last home game of his career against Miami, he had the game-winning single to cap a seven-run ninth as Kent State won 12-11.
Humphreys is making his first appearance on the all-conference team. He finished second for Kent State with a .349 average and led the team with 55 RBI and was third with 68 hits. He also stole 23 bases and had 104 putouts and 15 assists in centerfield for the Golden Flashes.
Pokorny made 22 appearances this year on the mound for Kent State with one start. He led the Golden Flashes with a 5-2 record and a 2.25 ERA. Pokorny saved his best for conference season as he went 4-0 and a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 innings pitched with 27 strikeouts.
Playing both second base and shortstop this year for the Golden Flashes, Rider led the team with a .356 batting average. In a key conference game against Ohio April 25, he went 5-for-5 with five runs scored and three RBI, including his first collegiate home run.
Kent State begins its quest for its seventh MAC Tournament title tomorrow at 9 a.m. against Miami in Chillicothe, Ohio.
All-MAC First Team
C- Zach Dygert, Ball State
1B- Tom Nurre, Miami
2B- Logan Meisler, Bowling Green
SS- Ryan Shay, Bowling Green
3B- Marc Krauss, Ohio
OF- Jeremy Hazelbaker, Ball State
OF- Gauntlett Eldemire, Ohio
OF- Adam Eaton, Miami
SP- Brennan Smith, Bowling Green
SP- Matt Erwood, Miami
SP- Chris Rigo, Ohio
SP- Matt Malewitz, Bowling Green
RP- Andrew Chafin, Kent State
DH- Matt Skirving, Eastern Michigan
At-Large/Utility- Kobrin Vitek, Ball State
All-MAC Second Team
C- Tyler Elkins, Bowling Green
1B- Greg Rohan, Kent State
2B - Jimmy Rider, Kent State
SS- Jim Gulliver, Eastern Michigan
3B- Derek Spencer, Bowling Green
OF- Jared Humphreys, Kent State
OF- Jordin Hood, Northern Illinois
OF- Hayden Johnston, Ohio
SP- Dan Taylor, Central Michigan
SP- Trent Howard, Central Michigan
SP - Matt Kuna, Toledo
SP- Corey Chaffins, Eastern Michigan
RP- Jon Pokorny, Kent State
DH- Robert Maddox, Ohio
At-Large/Utility- Brandon Besl, Ohio; Ian Nielsen, Ball State
MAC Player of the Year -- Marc Krauss, Ohio, 3B
MAC Pitcher of the Year -- Brennan Smith, Bowling Green, RHP
MAC Freshman of the Year -- Andrew Chafin, Kent State, LHP
MAC Coach of the Year -- Danny Schmitz, Bowling Green
