Mauricio, Ruiz Named to League’s First Team

William Penn University Athletics

Oskaloosa–Five Statesmen baseball players were recognized for strong campaigns as the all-Midwest Collegiate Conference baseball teams were announced Friday.

Left fielder Kyle Mauricio (Sr., Ardene Hills, Minn., Physical Education) and starting pitcher Josh Ruiz (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., General Mathematics) were chosen for the conference’s first team. The award is the second for Mauricio and the first for Ruiz. A total of 17 players were named to the MCC’s top squad, while an additional 17 earned honorable mentions.

Mauricio, who was an honorable-mention pick last year, hit a team-best .351 (47-for-134) with three doubles, 27 runs scored (team best), and 19 RBIs. He also posted a .373 slugging percentage, a .461 on–base clip (team best), 17 walks, 12 hit-by-pitches (team best), ten sacrifice hits, and nine stolen bases (team best). The senior had 13 multiple-hit games and posted a six-game hitting streak this season. He was named MCC Player of the Week once.

The staff ace, Ruiz owned a 6-0 record with a 1.16 Earned Run Average in 62 1/3 innings (fourth in the MCC). The junior, who appeared in ten games (ten starts) had three shutouts by himself and was a part of another. He struck out a league-high 63 against 13 walks and opponents hit just .190 against him. Ruiz was a one-time MCC Pitcher of the Week.

William Penn dominated the MCC’s Gold Glove Team with three honorees. Shortstop Enrique Alvarado (Sr., Lancaster, Calif., Sociology), second baseman Sho Serrano (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Physical Education), and center fielder Stan Simmons (Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y., Physical Education) were all honored for their strength on the defensive end. Alvarado committed just eight errors in 179 changes, while Serrano had only four mistakes in 155 opportunities. Simmons committed just one error in 90 tries.

Alvarado and Simmons collected their second honors (first for Serrano), while overall, William Penn (25-19, 11-12 MCC) was by far the best fielding team in the league with a .972 mark.

J. Golden of St. Ambrose was tabbed as the MCC’s Player of the Year, while Evan Taylor of Viterbo received Pitcher of the Year laurels. Chad Miller of Viterbo was named MCC Coach of the Year.

For the complete listing of the 2014 all-MCC Baseball teams, go to http://www.midwestcollegiateconference.com/article/1715.php