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May 13, 2009
USI has three players named first team All-Region
Complete Daktronics All-Region Teams
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team had three players named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II Midwest All-Region first team in a vote of the region's sports information directors. The three USI players on the Daktronics first team are the most in the history of the program.
Earning first-team honors in the outfield is senior Chad Werry (New Harmony, Indiana). He continues to lead the Eagles with a career-best season, posting career-bests in batting average (.393), runs scored (49), hits (81), doubles (25), home runs (7), and stolen bases (19).
The first-team All-GLVC player is hitting a blistering .419 with two home runs and eight RBIs in the last 10 games. He also batted .368 in last weekend's GLVC Tournament and hit the game-winning walk-off home run in the semifinals against Bellarmine University.
Recognized as the most versatile player in the Midwest Region, junior pitcher/infielder Tyler Choate (Carmi, Illinois) was named to the first team as a utility player. Choate is USI's number one starting pitcher, posting a 7-3 mark with a 3.22 ERA. The second-team All-GLVC utility player also leads the staff with 73 strike outs in a team-best 92.1 innings of work. The 92.1 innings is 11 innings shy of a single-season record set by Cory Julian in 2007.
Choate earned his utility player credentials by seeing action as a pitcher, designated hitter, first baseman, and third baseman. He ranks second on the team in batting (.359), while tying for the team-lead with eight home runs. The junior also has 48 runs scored, 34 RBIs, 15 doubles, and four triples.
On the mound, senior right-handed closer Shaun Larsen (Tell City, Indiana) has re-asserted his dominance on the mound this season. The 2008 third-team All-American and 2009 first-team All-GLVC reliever has a division-leading 16 saves and a 6-5 record this season. He also had a 2.57 ERA in a school-record tying 30 appearances and 49 innings of work.
In addition to the first-team honorees, USI senior third baseman Alex Thieroff (Greenfield, Indiana) was named second-team All-Region. Thieroff is third on the squad with a .327 batting and has a team-best 47 RBIs. The first-team All-GLVC third baseman also is tied for the team-lead with eight home runs.
All three first-team All-Region players advance to the Daktronics All-American ballot.
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information