Park's Josh Hake was named 2009 MCAC Pitcher of the Year, headlining 12 Park University selections to All-MCAC baseball squads.

Complete All-MCAC Announcement

OMAHA, Neb. – Park University right-handed pitcher Josh Hake was named 2009 MCAC Pitcher of the Year, headlining a list of 12 Pirate baseball players named to All-Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference squads at the 2009 MCAC Tournament in Omaha, Neb.

Hake is 8-2 on the season and owns Park’s school record for career wins, posting an overall record in two seasons with the Pirates of 17-2. Hake was also the league’s Pitcher of the Year in 2008. After his start in the MCAC’s first round, Hake pushed his team-leading strike out total to 75 while compiling a 3.14 ERA in 71.2 innings pitched.

Park’s home run leader through 43 games, junior Jesse Kearns, represented the Pirates in the outfield after hitting 11 home runs and driving in 54 runs with a batting average over .400.

Senior catcher Adam Shupe also hit over .400 on the year and belted 10 home runs driving in 52 runs while starting in 42 games. In addition to his .440 average, Shupe has posted a .558 on-base percentage, drawing a team-high 26 walks on the season.

Pete Peters led the Pirates in conference play by batting .473 while compiling an overall average of .417, as the senior was the MCAC’s first-team second baseman after making 41 starts in 43 games played. Peters also played a handful of games at third base for the Pirates, with 12 steals in 14 tries on the bases.

Matt Lackner rounded out the Pirates’ first-team selections as one of after going 8-1 on the year with a 3.51 ERA and 62 strike outs in 56.1 innings.

Also on the first team was Bellevue shortstop Louie Templeton, who was named MCAC Player of the Year, and the complete first-team, along with Rawlings Gold Glove and honorable mention team members, is available at www.mcac-naia.org.

Park senior shortstop Nick Kouratou was the club’s only Rawlings-MCAC Gold Glove award winner after starting 42 games at short with a .942 fielding percentage. Kouratou, who is also the team’s regular No. 3 hitter, is hitting .382 on the year with 19 doubles, a triple and four home runs. He has also driven in 45 runs this season.

For his efforts, Kouratou was also named honorable mention All-MCAC at shortstop, joining six other Pirates on the honorable mention all-conference squad.

Outfielders Darian Sandford and Ryan Weedin, infielders Brett Gordon and Dustin Laird, and pitchers Kiki Fuentes and Joe Christiano were also named to the honorable mention list.