HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University baseball players
Evan McDole and
Jason Cisper were honored as NCAA Division II preseason All-Americans, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper announced this week.
Additionally, pitcher
Dave Middendorf was listed as a “Player to Watch” and outfielder
Bryan Rose was named a “Newcomer to Watch” in 2010.
McDole, a senior from Alexandria, Ky., exploded on the scene as one of the top power hitters in the nation last season, belting 15 home runs while maintaining a .355 batting average. His .670 slugging percentage was good for second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. He was also walked a school-record 45 times, ranking 11th in the nation in that category. McDole earned the GLVC and Midwest Region Player of the Year awards, as well as second-team honors on the ABCA All-America team and the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America squad. He was also the GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for baseball.
Cisper, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, was one of the top hitters in all of Division II baseball, maintaining a .413 batting average during his junior campaign to lead all GLVC hitters and rank 55th nationally. Cisper had 81 hits and 20 doubles in 2009, each just two shy of the NKU single-season record. Cisper ended the season as a first team All-GLVC honoree and was named to the NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament team, hitting .417 (5-for-12) with a pair of doubles and three runs scored in the tournament.
Middendorf, a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio, was a top member of the NKU starting rotation last season, going 3-3 with a 4.10 earned run average. His 72 strikeouts led the team and, at almost 11 strikeouts per game, ranked fourth among GLVC hurlers. Middendorf was named to the All-GLVC third team for his efforts.
Rose, a junior from Rensselaer, N.Y., comes to NKU via the University of Kentucky, where he spent two years. Rose was a part-time starter for the Wildcats during his two seasons, compiling a .281 batting average with four home runs and 26 runs batted in over the span.
The 2010 NKU baseball season opens up on Feb. 17 at Lincoln Memorial. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Norse open the home half of their schedule on March 11 against UC-Clermont.