May 17, 2010
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. Sophomore Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer) and freshman Kyle Niermann (Napoleon) both earned second team acclaim while Stephen Torres (Lima/Juan Diego), Brennan Bauman (Milford), Kyle Trainer (Mechanicsburg) and Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern) all took home honorable mention All-HCAC recognition following the 2010 season.
Nick Broyles, who moved to shortstop after starting in centerfield his entire freshman season, hit a phenomenal .383 on the way to his first All-Heartland Conference honor. The standout sophomore established new Bluffton single-season highs with 49 RBI and 109 total bases while hitting 10 home runs and scoring 39 times which both tied him atop the all-time leader board. He started all 40 games for the Beavers and just missed out on the single-season steals mark of 17 as Broyles went 16-of-18 on base thefts. In addition, he finished with 57 hits (4th all-time), 12 doubles (tied for 4th all-time) and five triples (tied for 2nd all-time) for a .732 slugging percentage (10th all-time). Broyles drew 23 walks and was hit 11 times (both 4th all-time), helping him to a .492 on-base percentage (2nd on the team).
Broyles twice hit two homers in a game for the Beavers (Ohio Northern and Transylvania) and he also drove in five runs in a single game against both Ohio Northern and Anderson. He equaled Bluffton's single-game records with four runs scored against Transylvania, four walks against Juniata, four stolen bases against Juniata and two triples in Bluffton's season-ending victory over Franklin. In addition, Broyles has already made his mark on Bluffton's career record book. He has a .565 slugging percentage (8th), 13 homers (tied for 5th), five triples (tied for 11th), 22 stolen bases (tied for 7th) and 66 RBI (tied for 18th).
Also named to the Heartland Conference second team was freshman Kyle Niermann. After taking over as the starting right fielder and moving into the leadoff spot, Niermann terrorized opposing pitchers to the tune of a .371 batting average. He started 27 games, scoring 22 runs with 43 hits and 21 RBI. Niermann was 6-of-6 on stolen base attempts and he pounded out eight two-baggers for the Beavers. The sure-handed Niermann was outstanding in Bluffton's tricky right field corner, finishing his first campaign with a .970 fielding percentage and three assists. In Bluffton's 16-14 win at Defiance, he smoked three doubles (tied for 1st all-time) and drove in five runs while also equaling the school single-game mark with seven at-bats.
Tyler Stephenson had a break-out year for the Beavers in 2010, piling up a school-record 167 at-bats while pounding the ball at a ridiculous .401 clip. He shattered Tony Moore's single-season hits mark of 61 by bashing 67 safeties, including seven long balls (tied for 6th all-time), three triples and 12 doubles (tied for 4th all-time). Stephenson scored 37 runs (tied for 5th all-time) and tallied 106 total bases (2nd all-time to Nick Broyles). He slugged .635 and drove in 36 runs while manning the hot corner for the Beavers.
Stephenson rapped two triples in Bluffton's win over Juniata at the Snowbird Classic to start the season. After two years, Stephenson is tied for 16th all-time with 157 total bases while his nine home runs are tied for 10th all-time. His .366 career batting average is currently tied for 10th all-time and his .563 slugging percentage is also 10th all-time.
Brennan Bauman picked up his first All-HCAC award after his most productive season with the Beavers. The senior, showing that he could hit for both average and power, finished the season with a .351 batting average and .613 slugging percentage. Bauman tallied 39 hits, 22 RBI and 21 runs scored while getting on base at a .478 clip. He finished the season with seven home runs (tied for 6th all-time) and drew 18 free passes while splitting time between first base and designated hitter. The younger brother of former Beaver Chris Bauman, Brennan smoked two home runs in Bluffton's series-opening victory over Transylvania University.
Fellow senior Stephen Torres collected his second All-HCAC honorable mention award in as many seasons. Torres was a natural fit batting second for the Beavers. In addition to hitting .324 while starting 38 games for Bluffton, Torres led the team with nine sacrifice bunts and he was a perfect 14-of-14 on stolen base attempts. He established a new school record by being hit 16 times and he drew 12 walks for a .437 on-base percentage. Torres walloped 45 hits, scored 37 runs (tied for 5th all-time) and drove in 25 with four homers, a triple and seven doubles.
He was solid behind the plate, throwing out 10 would-be base stealers this season while recording 38 assists and 157 putouts. Torres was one of three Beavers to hit two home runs in a game this year, parking a pair against Franklin College in the final series of his career. Despite playing just two years at Bluffton, Torres ranks 18th all-time with 16 stolen bases and he was hit by 21 pitches (tied for 2nd all-time).
Sophomore Kyle Trainer played in 34 games for the Beavers, starting in 26 of them. The second baseman tallied 36 hits for a .364 batting average. He scored 17 runs and knocked in 11 while posting a .413 on-base percentage. Trainer drew nine walks and finished the season with a team-high 76 assists.
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