May 14, 2008
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BLUFFTON, Ohio - Five Bluffton University baseball players were recently honored by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference coaches for their efforts on the diamond this spring. Senior standout TIM KAY (Alpharetta Ga./Blessed Trinity) was the lone Beaver to earn first team acclaim, the third consecutive year that he has been a first team selection. Seniors TONY MOORE (Elida/Elida) and JIMMY MCMONAGLE (Ida, Mich./Ida) were joined on the list of honorable mention recipients by juniors JAMES HAUSMAN (Milford/Milford) and CHRIS BAUMAN (Milford/Milford). Finishing his career at Bluffton with another typically outstanding season, Tim Kay collected his third straight first team All-HCAC honor as a designated hitter. Although he started the year slowly by his standards, Kay continued to improve throughout the season, playing his best during the Heartland Conference portion of the 2008 schedule. He rocked HCAC pitching at a .450 clip with 36 hits, both of which placed him second in the conference. His nine stolen bases were the third-most in Heartland Conference action. Kay's .411 batting average for the season placed him second in the HCAC for all contests. For the season, Kay pounded 11 doubles, three triples and two home runs for a .574 slugging percentage. He walked six times and drove in 27 runs while compiling a .444 on-base percentage in his final season. |
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Kay made his mark on the Bluffton record book following the 2008 campaign. His 58 hits this season moved him into second place behind Tony Moore's 61 hits in 2006. He also equaled Moore's record of 38 runs scored only to see sophomore A.J. Ramthun take over the top slot with 39 runs this year. Kay ended the season with 81 total bases, the second-highest total ever by a Bluffton baseball player. He stole 14 bases this season which placed him fifth all-time. On the mound Kay fanned 47 batters in 50.0 innings for 8.46 strikeouts per nine innings. Both of those marks were good for 10th place all-time in the single-season record book. |
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For his career, Kay put up numbers that moved him near the top of the Bluffton record book in many hitting and pitching categories. His .403 batting average is the third-best among all Bluffton hitters. He ranks sixth with 79 runs batted in and fifth all-time with 34 stolen bases, despite not hitting as a freshman. Kay wrapped up his career at the plate with a whopping .559 slugging percentage to go along with his .455 on-base percentage for a phenomenal OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.014. Kay finished his career with 15 complete games (second all-time), 32 games started (third all-time), 196.2 innings pitched and 131 career strikeouts (both fourth all-time). His 12 wins place him in a tie for fifth all-time as a Bluffton hurler. |
| Tony Moore, who was a first team All-Heartland Conference selection in 2007 and a second team All-Midwest Region selection in 2006, anchored the defense with his play in center field. He picked up his second All-HCAC honor after another fine season for the Beavers. Moore's 54 hits, the third-highest single-season total ever at Bluffton, gave him 168 for his career and tied him with Brad Buckingham for the most career hits by a Beaver. He finished the year with 148 at-bats, the second-highest total for a single season and his 35 runs scored leaves him in fifth place, three less than his then-record 38 set in 2006. | 
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Moore hit .365 with four doubles, a triple and two home runs against Heidelberg during his final campaign. He started all 38 games, drew 12 walks and drove in 28 runs while posting a .424 on-base percentage. The senior standout stole nine bases, hit four sacrifice flies and tallied three sacrifice bunts. For his career, Moore started 115 games, scored a Bluffton record 119 runs, stole 38 bases (tied for second all-time) and hit .364. He racked up 462 career at-bats (third all-time) and 199 total bases (seventh all-time). |
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The third senior to be rewarded by the conference coaches for his play this spring was Jimmy McMonagle. The first baseman saved his best season for last, going 34-of-103 at the plate for a .330 batting average. He started 32 games with 19 RBI and 16 runs scored. McMonagle led the team with six sacrifice bunts, the fourth-highest total ever for a single-season at Bluffton. He drew seven free passes, stole three bases and finished the year with a .389 on-base percentage. For his career, McMonagle hit .279 (69-of-247) with 40 runs scored and 34 RBI. He walked 29 times and tallied 12 sacrifice bunts while starting 78 games for the Beavers. |
| Junior pitcher James Hausman picked up his first All-HCAC honor after a 2008 campaign that saw him split time between starting and working out of the bullpen. He led the Beavers with a 3.30 earned run average and held the opposition to a .281 batting average. Hausman gave up 47 hits and 28 runs, just 16 earned, in 43.2 innings on the hill. He struck out 27 batters and made 12 appearances, including three starts, while compiling a 2-3 record with his first career save. | 
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Fellow Milford graduate Chris Bauman, who split time between the outfield and designated hitter, also garnered his first All-HCAC award following his junior campaign. After missing the 2007 season due to injuries sustained in March 2 bus accident, Bauman picked up where he left off at the end of the 2006 season. He smoked opposing pitching to the tune of a .330 batting average (34-of-103). Bauman laced 10 doubles, scored 20 runs and drove in 18 while slugging at a .447 clip. He walked 13 times, stole four bases and finished the season with a .425 on-base percentage. |
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The Beavers ended the 2008 season with a 15-23 overall record, including a 7-15 mark in the HCAC. -BEAVERS- |