Northern Iowa shortstop Brandon Douglas and Missouri State ace Tim Clubb highlight the 2008 all-Missouri Valley Conference baseball teams. Douglas, a three-time first team all-MVC performer, is UNI’s fourth Joe Carter Player of the Year and third this decade. Clubb, owner of an unblemished 10-0 record and the conference leader in innings pitched, is the third Missouri State pitcher to take home Pitcher of the Year honors. Creighton’s Jeremy Hauer was named Newcomer of the Year and Illinois State speedster Kevin Tokarski was named Freshman of the Year.
Douglas, a junior from St. Charles, Iowa started all 51 games for UNI this season. He was second in the league in batting average and slugging, tied for first in hits and doubles, was fourth in home runs, and fifth in RBIs. He joins former Panther greats Brian Jergenson (1997), Ryan Brunner (2001) and Adam Boeve (2003) as UNI’s fourth Joe Carter Player of the Year.
Clubb, just a sophomore, hails from Eureka, Mo and just completed one of the best regular seasons in MVC history. Clubb is one of just six players in Valley history to go 10-0 in the regular season. He joins hurlers Brad Zielger (2003) and Rob Garola (1997) as MSU’s third MVC Pitcher of the Year.
Five repeat selections also highlight the list. Last year’s Joe Carter Player of the Year Darin Ruf, Wichita State third baseman Conor Gillaspie, Saluki catcher Mark Kelly, Creighton reliever Pat Venditte and Douglas make up the repeat list. Both Douglas and Gillaspie are three-time first team all-MVC recipients.
MVC Coaches sorted through nearly 90 nominees for the three teams and four specialty awards. Student-athletes must receive at least two all-conference votes to be named as honorable mention.
First Team
C Mark Kelly, Southern Illinois
1B Darin Ruf, Creighton
2B Ryan Strausborger, Indiana State
SS Brandon Douglas, UNI
3B Conor Gillaspie, Wichita State
OF Andy Dirks, Wichita State
OF Ben Woodbury, Missouri State
OF Dan Brewer, Bradley
DH Ben Carlson, Missouri State
UT Brett Douglas, UNI
SP Tim Clubb, Missouri State
SP Rob Musgrave, Wichita State
SP Anthony Capra, Wichita State
RP Pat Venditte, Creighton
RP Matt Frevert, Missouri State
Second Team
C Kevin Dubler, Illinois State
1B Brett Featherston, UNI
2B Josh Workman, Wichita State
SS Dusty Coleman, Wichita State
3B Brayden Drake, Missouri State
OF Chris Schmidt, Indiana State
OF Colby Luttrell, Bradley
OF Dane Embury, UNI
OF Robbie Knight, Creighton
DH Clint McKeever, Wichita State
UT Chris Playter, Missouri State
SP Jeremy Hauer, Creighton
SP Guido Fonseca, UNI
SP Mike Nihsen, Creighton
RP Eric Theisen, Illinois State
RP Joe Gonzalez, UNI
Honorable Mention:
Grant Escue, 1B, Bradley; Matt Fritz, 2B, Bradley; Steve Winkelmann, 3B, Creighton; Tyler Lairson, 3B, Southern Illinois; Derek Melton, DH, Evansville; Brady Shoemaker, OF, Indiana State; Nick Ciolli, OF, Indiana State; Nolan Keane, OF, Missouri State; Deric Manrique, OF, UNI; Kenny Williams Jr., OF, Wichita State; Ryan Copeland, SP, Illinois State; Buddy Baumann, SP, Missouri State; Shawn Joy, SP; Southern Illinois, Aaron Shafer, SP, Wichita State; Kori Jensen, RP, Bradley; Adam Curynski, RP, Southern Illinois; Khol Nanney, RP, Wichita State.
Newcomer of the Year:
Jeremy Hauer, Creighton
Freshman of the Year:
Kevin Tokarski, Illinois State
Pitcher of the Year:
Tim Clubb, Missouri State
Joe Carter Player of the Year:
Brandon Douglas, UNI