May 21, 2008

ADRIAN, Mich. - Head Coach Craig Rainey and senior Bobby Rickstad highlight this year's ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) Mideast Regional honors after capturing the regional title this past weekend.

Rainey was named Mideast Regional Coach of the Year for the first time in his 15-year career at the helm of the Bulldog program. Rainey won his 300th game earlier this season and led the Bulldogs to a school-record 34 wins.

Rickstad was named Mideast Regional Player of the Year and also earned First Team All-Region plaudits. Rickstad is the first Bulldog to earn regional player of the year honors. He made the first-team as a utility player and has done well both at the plate and on the mound this year and throughout his four-year career. Rickstad is a four-time all-conference selection and this year hit .360 overall with seven home runs and 38 RBI's. He also went 6-2 on the mound with 47 strikeouts and a 3.70 ERA.

Sophomore outfielder Alex Cowart was also named First Team All-Region after leading the MIAA in hitting. Cowart is hitting .388 for the Bulldogs and leads the team with 15 doubles, 59 hits and 43 RBI's.

Sophomore second baseman Steve Vanderheyden was named Honorable Mention All-Region after hitting .346 with nine doubles, six home runs and 28 RBI's. Vanderheyden was named to the all-tournament team at the Mideast regional last week and drove in five runs for the Bulldogs.