Baseball brings in five NAIA All-Region honors
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Dave Dawson was named NAIA Region IV Coach of the Year

Kansas Wesleyan University had five individuals earn All-NAIA Region IV honors as the 2008 NAIA Region IV All-Region team and Gold Glove award winners were released.

Head Coach Dave Dawson was named the NAIA Region IV Coach of the Year after leading the Coyotes to the KCAC Championship in his third season at the helm of the program. In his three seasons leading Coyote baseball, Wesleyan has improved from a 17-33-1 overall record in 2006 to a 31-18 finish this season, along with capturing the Coyotes’ first KCAC title since 2001.

Two KWU baseball players were named to the All-Region IV baseball team in Brandon Mathes and Shaun Sumter.

Mathes, a junior outfielder/pitcher from Mustang, Okla., also earned KCAC Player of the Year and First Team All-KCAC honors earlier this month. He finished the 2008 season batting .396 for the Coyotes in 46 games, collecting a team best 57 hits in 144 at bats, and had a team best 15 stolen bases. On the hill, Mathes was 1-4 with a 6.33 ERA. He started four games and appeared in 11, while recording two saves. His best pitching performance was on April 21, when he tossed a two-hit complete game shut out of Ottawa in a 10-0 win.

Mathes

Sumter

Sumter, a senior pitcher from Oolagah, Okla., also earned First Team All-KCAC earlier this month. In 82.1 innings pitched, Sumter struck out 71 batters, while allowing just 17 walks. He finished the season with an 8-3 record and a 2.73 ERA, while tossing seven complete games and recording two shutouts. Opposing batters hit just .253 against Sumter this season.

Two Kansas Wesleyan players also received NAIA Region IV Gold Glove awards

Romero

Hook

Romero, a second baseman from Las Vegas, Nev., earned his second straight NAIA Region IV Gold Glove in 2008, in addition to receiving the KCAC Gold Glove at second base. Romero finished the season with a superb effort in the field. In 175 chances in the field, he had just 13 errors for a .926 fielding percentage. He also was involved in 15 of Wesleyan’s 20 double plays. Offensively, Romero hit .283 with 32 hits and had 16 RBIs. He also received Second Team All-KCAC honors at second base.

Kyle Hook, a junior catcher from Mesa, Ariz., earned the NAIA Region IV Gold Glove at catcher. In 234 chances this season, Hook only had four errors for a .983 fielding percentage. Hook also threw out nine of 20 potential base stealers. Offensively, Hook hit .286 with 28 hits. He also earned Second Team All-KCAC honors.

-- KWU SI --