BLUFFTON, Ohio - Six Bluffton University baseball players were recently honored by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference coaches for their play on the field this spring. Senior RIORDAN MCCLAIN (Upper Sandusky/Upper Sandusky), sophomore TIM KAY (Alpharetta Ga./Blessed Trinity) and fellow sophomore GREG SIGG (Maumee/Maumee) were named first team All-HCAC for 2006. Sophomores TONY MOORE (Elida/Elida) and RYAN BAIGHTEL(Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) along with freshman CURTIS SCHROEDER (Shelby/Shelby) earned honorable mention All-HCAC.

Senior Riordan McClain, who led the Beavers with a .405 batting average, moved from shortstop to the outfield this season and also joined the starting rotation as he picked up two victories on the mound. He was 53-of-131 at the plate with nine doubles, three triples and two home runs. He finished the season with 21 RBI's, 33 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, a .565 slugging percentage and a .497 on-base percentage. His 53 hits surpassed the previous record of 50 set in 1988.

In conference contests, McClain hit .370 (27-of-73) with 12 runs scored, 10 RBI's and five doubles. He had a .507 slugging percentage and a .447 on-base percentage against HCAC foes.

Sophomore pitcher/designated hitter Tim Kay provided the Beavers with another pitcher capable of doing damage at the plate. He hit .360 (45-of-125), with 35 RBI's, 27 runs scored, eight doubles and two home runs. Kay finished the year with a .488 slugging percentage and a .409 on-base percentage while also stealing nine bases.

During the HCAC portion of the season, Kay cracked four doubles and both of his home runs while hitting at a .313 (25-80) clip from the plate. He drove in 13 runs and scored 13 times against conference opponents.

On the hill, Kay was 5-4 with five complete games in nine starts and 11 appearances.

Sophomore first baseman Greg Sigg was 36-for-112 (.321) at the plate with a .455 slugging percentage for the Beavers. He ripped nine doubles and two home runs while driving in 17 and scoring 17 runs.

Sigg's numbers improved during HCAC action as he hit .364 (24-66) with six doubles, two dingers, 12 runs scored and eight RBI's. His slugging percentage of .545 was near the top of the conference.

Sophomore second baseman Tony Moore had a breakout season on his was to honorable mention All-HCAC honors for 2006. He hit .401 with a .474 slugging percentage and .438 on-base percentage. His 61 hits shattered the previous record of 50 hits in a season by Matt Henderson in 1988. Moore scored a school record 38 runs and drove in 23 for the Beavers. He tied the school record with 17 steals and put together a 19-game hitting streak.

Moore hit .337 (28-83) in HCAC action with seven doubles, 17 runs scored and six stolen bases. He finished the conference season with a .422 slugging percentage and .368 on-base percentage.

Freshman catcher Curtis Schroeder enjoyed a fine 2006 for the Bluffton University baseball team. He ended the season with a .297 batting average (35-118), six doubles, four home runs and 20 runs scored. He was hit a school record 12 times while slugging .466 for the year. He threw out 16 would-be base stealers.

Schroeder garnered 15 RBI's in HCAC contests while smacking four doubles and one home run.

Sophomore transfer Ryan Baightel took over at shortstop for the Beavers in 2006 and proved to be a valuable addition in the field and at the plate. He hit .293 (36-123) with nine doubles, 24 runs scored and 24 RBI's. He finished the season with a .407 slugging percentage, six sacrifice bunts and three sacrifice flies.

Baightel picked up his offense during the conference games as he racked up seven doubles, one home run, 14 runs and 14 RBI's while stroking HCAC pitchers for a .324 batting average. His slugging percentage shot to .471 in games versus Heartland Conference foes.

Ben Werner

Franklin

Senior

C

Michael Shearer

Manchester

Senior

C

Greg Sigg

Bluffton

Sophomore

1B

Jim Wood

Transylvania

Senior

2B

Nathan Roberts

Franklin

Senior

3B

George Mallett

Manchester

Senior

3B

Bryan Vasse

Transylvania

Junior

3B

Ryan Seal

Manchester

Senior

SS

Thomas Hopkins

Hanover

Senior

SS

Zach Sounhein

Anderson

Junior

OF

Riordan McClain

Bluffton

Senior

OF

Dan Gillin

Hanover

Junior

OF

Scott Tarnowski

Manchester

Junior

OF

Brock Treesh

Manchester

Senior

OF

Mitch Kuczek

Transylvania

Sophomore

OF

Tim Kay

Bluffton

Sophomore

DH

James Yenser

Defiance

Senior

P

Joe Cravens

Hanover

Sophomore

P

Tyler Wolfe

Manchester

Junior

P

Mitch Waters

Manchester

Senior

P

Dan Sprunger

Manchester

Senior

P

Ryan Weiss

Anderson

Senior

C

Dillon Lawson

Transylvania

Junior

1B

Eric Tipton

Defiance

Senior

2B

Todd Miller

Hanover

Senior

3B

Jeremy Hawkins

Defiance

Junior

SS

Lance LaBonte

Franklin

Junior

OF

Peter Whiting

Anderson

Junior

OF

Michael Mayer

Mt. St. Joseph

Junior

OF

Zach Scott

Manchester

Senior

DH

Andy Clark

Franklin

Sophomore

P

Marcus Miller

Manchester

Senior

P