Ten Earn Baseball LMC Awards; Hendricks Rookie Of Year; Weber Coach Of Year
May 11, 2004
 The Lake Michigan Conference baseball coaches had their end of season meeting last evening, and voted on the ALL-Lake Michigan Conference awards for the 2004 season. Awards were based on conference statistics only. Lakeland had 10 players receive awards, including four First Team selections, four Honorable Mention selections, two All-Rookie Team selections and the Rookie and Coach of the Year.

First Teamers included Brett Anshutz at the utility position, Mike Bachar at shortstop, and both Dan Rauwerdink and Steve Plucinski at pitcher.

Anschutz (so.) played several different positions for the Muskies filling in where needed on a daily basis due to several injuries. Despite playing third base, left field, right field, first base, designated hitter and pitcher, Anschutz hit .357 (15 for 42) with 1 HR, 4 2B's, 6 RBI and 14 runs scored. Anshutz was a late comer into the Muskie line-up and earned a spot a third of the way through the conference season.

Bachar (sr.) hit .317 (20 for 63) with 5 2B's and 12 RBI from the leadoff spot for Lakeland. He led the conference in walks (16), was 8th in on-base percentage (.456), t-6th in stolen bases (6), was 5th in runs scored (17) and had the 4th most assists defensively (44) while being a vacuum up the middle.

Rauwerdink (sr.) was 3-1 in conference play and finished with the 2nd best ERA at 1.74. In 31 innings pitched, the lone senior on the Muskie staff struck out 22 (10th best) and walked just three while holding opponents to a miniscule .186 batting average (4th). Rauwerdink also averaged 7.75 innings per start (1st), 6.39 strikeouts per start (10th) and just .87 walks per game (1st). He also held opponents to just 6.10 hits per game (4th). This is the second sport Rauwerdink has earned all-conference honors in at Lakeland as he was a First Team selection for the Muskie Golf team last season.

Plucinski (jr.) was perhaps the most dominant pitcher in conference finishing 3-2 with a 2.37 ERA (4th). He had four complete games in his five appearances and struck out 52 (1st - by a marging of 21) while walking only 13. Plucinski held opponents to a .167 batting average (2nd), averaged 7.60 innings per start (2nd to Rauwerdink), averaged 12.32 strikeouts per game (1st) and gave up just 5.21 hits per game (1st). His losses came by the scores of 2-1 and 4-0 despite complete game efforts. Plucinski also threw just the fourth no-hitter in Lakeland history when he defeated conference opponent MSOE 1-0 in April.

Honorable Mention status went to Matt Andrews at catcher, Jon Bintner at second base, Mike Gappa at first base, and Tyler Schmitt in the outfield.

Andrews (so.) hit .333 (14 for 42) with 2 HR's, 2 2B's, 8 RBI, 9 runs and 6 walks. He also was a defensive stalwart allowing just one passed ball while throwing out several would-be base stealers.

Bintner (jr.) hit .326 (15 for 46) with 3 2B's, 8 RBI and 11 runs scored. He also added 6 walks, 2 SB's, had a .407 on-base percentage and formed a solid defensive presence in the middle of the field with Bachar.

Gappa (jr.) hit .321 (18 for 56) with 1 HR, 5 2B's, 9 RBI and 5 walks. He had a .406 on-base percentage with 16 runs scored (t-6th) and struck out only once in conference play. He also made a smooth adjustment to first base while seeing limited time at catcher due to a knee injury and the emergence of Andrews.

Schmitt (so.) hit .377 (10th) at 26 for 69 with a .416 on base percentage. He had 1 HR, 5 2B's, 20 RBI (t-2nd), 6 walks, and 8 stolen bases (4th). Schmitt had only 3 strikeouts while doing an excellent job patrolling centerfield for Lakeland (finished with 1.000 fielding percentage).

Two freshmen players were named to the All-Rookie Team in Brett Nelson and Curt Hendricks. Hendricks was also named the Rookie of the Year in the LMC. Nelson hit .412 (14 for 34) with 4 2B's, 6 RBI and 4 stolen bases. Hendricks finished 3-0 with a 2.64 ERA (5th) in 30.2 innings pitched. He struck out 23 (8th) while walking 10 and holding opponents to a .263 average (10th). Hendricks averaged 6.13 innings per start (10th) and 6.75 strikeouts per game (8th).

Weber was named the Coach of the Year for the fourth straight season after leading Lakeland to their fourth straight outright title. This title was perhaps the most difficult as the Muskies had to overcome the season-ending loss of three positional starters and their number two pitcher due to injuries. The Muskies ended up winning the conference by two games with a 15-3 mark.