ESU's Fornelli named MIAA Coach of Year
Middle infielders Levi Ashmore and Ryan McBroom were both named First-Team All-MIAA to lead 11 Emporia State players that earned some type of all-conference recognition for the MIAA regular season champions.
Ashmore was named the first-team All-MIAA shortstop. The senior from Iola, Kan. leads the MIAA and ranks 13th in the nation with 62 runs scored, is ranked third in the league with 20 stolen bases, fourth with a .468 on base percentage, and fifth with 34 walks. He is batting .356 with three home runs, 30 RBI and 15 doubles on the year.
McBroom earned first-team All-MIAA honors at second base. The senior from Wichita, Kan. is seventh in the conference with four triples and is batting .349 on the year with eight home runs, 13 doubles and 48 RBI. He has a team high 22 two out RBI.
The Hornets had five players named to the second-team - pitcher Seth Holman, catcher Mason Brown, first baseman Kaden Shaffer, third baseman Alex White and outfielder Mack Gowing.
Holman leads the MIAA and ranks fourth in the nation with ten wins, is fifth in the league with 84.0 innings pitched, and seventh with 69 strikeouts. The junior from Wichita, Kan. is 10-2 on the season with a 4.29 ERA while opponents bat just .277 against him. He has a 3.63 strike out to walk ratio and allows just 2.04 walks per nine innings to rank fourth in the MIAA in both categories.
Brown is fifth in the MIAA with a .389 batting average, ranks sixth with 72 hits and 17 doubles, and is eighth with a .461 on base percentage. The junior from Littleton, Colo. has six home runs, 47 RBI and 46 runs scored on the year. He has thrown out ten runners trying to steal this year. He is batting .443 with runners in scoring position.
Shaffer is seventh in the MIAA with a .462 on base percentage and 32 walks and is eighth with 48 runs scored. The junior from Ottawa, Kan. is batting .347 with eight home runs, nine doubles, three triples and 46 RBI. He has 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts this season.
White is fifth in the MIAA with a .466 on base percentage and eighth with a .377 batting average. The senior from Colorado Springs, Colo. has seven doubles, two home runs, 44 RBI and 42 runs scored. He has reached base safely in 31 straight games that included a 19 game hitting streak earlier this year.
Gowing is hitting .360 with eight doubles, a triple, two home runs and 35 RBI. The junior from Wichita, Kan. has seven stolen bases, 37 runs scored this year.
Tanner Cairns earned third-team honors at pitcher. The sophomore from Wichita, Kan. is fifth in the MIAA with seven wins and a 2.99 ERA, seventh with 78.1 innings pitched. He is 7-1 with 41 strikeouts in 14 appearances with 11 starts. He has gone at least 5.0 innings in all 11 of his starts with two complete games.
Reliever Nathan Whitcomb and outfielders Wade Hanna and BJ Dean earned honorable mention recognition for the Hornets.
Catcher Mason Brown, first baseman Kaden Shaffer and third baseman Alex White were named to the Gold Glove Team after Emporia State led the MIAA in fielding percentage and double plays turned this year.
Head coach Bob Fornelli, who earlier this year became the winningest coach in Emporia State history, was named the MIAA Coach of the Year. It is the fourth time he has been named Coach of the Year in the MIAA and the first since the 2009 season.
The Hornets open play in the MIAA Tournament at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday against Missouri Southern in Joplin, Mo.
2017 All-MIAA Baseball
First Team
Pitcher: Anthony Caenepeel, Sr., Northwest Missouri
Pitcher: Richard Peoples, Sr., Missouri Western
Pitcher: Zach Girrens, Jr., Central Missouri
Relief Pitcher: Connor Law, Sr., Lindenwood
Catcher: Hunter Hisky, So., Southwest Baptist
First Base: Collin Nevill, Jr., Central Missouri
Second Base: Ryan McBroom, Sr., Emporia State
Shortstop: Levi Ashmore, Sr., Emporia State
Third Base: Max Hogan, Sr., Missouri Southern
Outfield: Justin Graff-Rowe, Jr., Central Missouri#
Outfield: Tyler Sutherland, Sr., Missouri Southern#
Outfield: Wes Degener, Jr., Lindenwood#
Outfield: Nick Gawley, Sr., Missouri Western#
Designated Hitter: Dallas Schramm, Jr., Neb.-Kearney
Utility: Travis Stroup, Sr., Central Missouri
Second Team
Pitcher: Seth Holman, Jr., Emporia State
Pitcher: Steven D'Amico, Sr., Central Missouri
Pitcher: Brendan Feldmann, Sr., Lindenwood
Relief Pitcher: Gibson Russ, Sr., Central Oklahoma
Catcher: Mason Brown, Jr., Emporia State
First Base: Kaden Shaffer, Jr., Emporia State
Second Base: David Glaude, Sr., Missouri Western
Shortstop: Jackson Schnurbusch, Sr., Central Missouri
Third Base: Alex White, Sr., Emporia State
Outfield: Andrew Vogelbaugh, Jr., Pittsburg State
Outfield: Mack Gowing, Jr., Emporia State
Outfield: Andrew Meier, Fr., Southwest Baptist
Designated Hitter: Erik Webb, Fr., Central Missouri
Utility: Ty Reddington, Sr., Fort Hays State
Third Team
Pitcher: Tanner Cairns, So., Emporia State
Pitcher: Holden Capps, Sr., Central Oklahoma
Pitcher: Nate Hunter, Jr., Missouri Western
Relief Pitcher: Nikko Pablo, Sr., Northwest Missouri
Catcher: Dave Prost, Jr., Missouri Southern
First Base: Joe Paulino, Sr., Missouri Southern
Second Base: Dallas Reed, Jr., Pittsburg State
Shortstop: Riley Krane, Sr., Washburn
Third Base: Caleb Sneed, Jr., Southwest Baptist
Outfield: Travis Able, Jr., Central Missouri#
Outfield: Hunter Clanin, Jr., Pittsburg State#
Outfield: Jake Dyer, Jr., Central Oklahoma#
Outfield: Jordan Payne, Jr., Northeastern State#
Designated Hitter: Chance Wolfe, Sr., Southwest Baptist
Utility: Drew Quinones, Jr., Lindenwood
Honorable Mention (Emporia State only)
Relief Pitcher: Nathan Whitcomb
Outfield: BJ Dean; Wade Hanna
Gold Glove Team
Catcher: Hunter Hisky, So., Southwest Baptist#
Catcher: Mason Brown, Jr., Emporia State#
First Base: Kaden Shaffer, Jr., Emporia State
Second Base: David Glaude, Sr., Missouri Western
Shortstop: Jackson Schnurbusch, Sr., Central Missouri
Third Base: Alex White, Sr., Emporia State
Outfield: Travis Able, Jr., Central Missouri
Outfield: Tyler Sutherland, Sr., Missouri Southern
Outfield: Korey Floyd, Sr., Central Oklahoma
#= Indicates tie in the voting
Player of the Year: Max Hogan, Sr., 3B, Mo. Southern
Pitcher of the Year: Anthony Caeneppel, Sr., Northwest Mo.
Co-Freshman of the Year: Dusty Stroup, SS, Mo. Western & Andrew Meier, P/OF, Southwest Baptist
Coach of the Year: Bob Fornelli, Emporia State
