Seven Tigers Earn All-MIAA Baseball Honors

May 12, 2011|FHSU Media Relations

HAYS, Kansas — Fort Hays State had seven players named to the All-MIAA Baseball Team for the 2011 season, released on Thursday, May 12. The Tigers had two second team selections, which included catcher Sloan Soulia and outfielder Nash Smith, and five honorable mention selections, which included relief pitcher Brett Macari, first baseman Kyle Stacken, outfielders Anthony Salinas and Brandon Hoefler, and designated hitter JC Ochoa.

Soulia earned second-team honors for the second straight year, this year at catcher after being selected as a designated hitter last year. The Falcon, Colo., senior enters the MIAA Tournament ranked among the top 10 in the conference in doubles, total bases, hits, runs scored, slugging percentage, RBI, and batting average. He currently leads FHSU in runs scored, hits, doubles, RBI, and total bases.

Smith garnered the second All-MIAA honor of his career, this time as a second-team selection in the outfield after an honorable mention selection last year. Entering the conference tournament, the Jewell, Kan., native ranked in the MIAA top 10 in slugging percentage, home runs, total bases, doubles, stolen bases, and batting average. He leads FHSU in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and stolen bases entering the conference tournament.

Macari earned honorable mention honors in his first year with the Tigers as a relief pitcher. The FHSU closer was a perfect 12-for-12 in save opportunities in the regular season and entered the MIAA Tournament ranked eighth in NCAA Division II in saves. The Andale, Kan., native ranked second in the conference in saves and was a perfect 4-0 in all four of his starts entering the postseason.

Stacken garnered his third straight All-MIAA Honorable Mention honor, after grabbing the honor last year at first base and the year before as a designated hitter. The Concordia, Kan., senior entered the conference tournament second on the team in doubles and RBI. He leads the team in walks.

Salinas earned an honorable mention nod in his first year at FHSU. The Wichita, Kan., native is the fourth-leading hitter on the team at .355. He ranked third on the team in doubles entering the tournament with 16.

Hoefler, native of Manhattan, Kan., earned an honorable mention selection in his first year at FHSU. He was one of just two FHSU players on the team in start all 50 games in the regular season, Soulia being the other. He hit four home runs and drove in 31 in the leadoff spot in the lineup. He was also a key defensive player throughout the year with his speed to cut down several would be base hits.

Ochoa earned an honorable mention selection as a designated hitter in his first year at FHSU. The Littleton, Colo., native came on at the end of the year after seeing limited action at the start of the season. He finished the regular season ranked second on the team in batting average (.371) with eight extra-base hits and 23 RBI.

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