Six Tribe Players Selected to All-CAA Teams

05/20/08 8:30PM

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Six William and Mary baseball players were selected to all-conference teams at the Colonial Athletic Association Awards Banquet on Tuesday evening in Wilmington, N.C. Junior first baseman Mike Sheridan and junior outfielder Ben Guez both garnered first-team honors, while senior catcher Tim Park, senior utility player Paul Juliano and senior relief pitcher Pat Kantakevich were chosen to the All-CAA Second Team. Freshman pitcher Tim Norton was named to the All-Rookie Team. The all-conference teams were selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches.

Sheridan posted one of the best seasons in school history this year, as he led the conference in hits (89) and runs scored (73), while he was second in RBI (68), doubles (24) and total bases (157). The Washington, D.C., native also ranked third in batting average (.416) and fourth in slugging percentage (.734). Additionally, he has already equaled the single-season school record for runs scored, while he also ranks among the program’s single-season top 10 lists in batting average, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and total bases. Earlier this season, Sheridan was selected to the Dick Howser Trophy Watch List and the Revised Wallace Award Watch List.

One of the top outfielders in the nation, Guez garnered first-team all-league honors after ranking second in the conference in runs scored (72), third in on-base percentage (.480), fourth in hits (87), fifth in batting average (.399), seventh in total bases (144), eighth in doubles (18) and ninth in slugging percentage (.661). Additionally, he ranks among W&M’s single-season top 10 lists in batting average, hits, runs scored, slugging percentage and total bases. The Houston, Texas native hit better than .400 for much of the season and boasted an average as high as .415 in mid-May. Additionally, Guez finished the regular season on a power surge, hitting five home runs in the final nine games.

Park’s selection to the all-conference second team added to the senior’s long list of accolades this season, as he was previously named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, the Preseason Wallace Award Watch List and the Dick Howser Trophy Watch List. Park led the CAA in hits (89), doubles (25) and on-base percentage (.487), while he ranked second in batting average (.424), third in total bases (151), fourth in RBI (60), and fifth in runs scored (62) and slugging percentage (.719). Additionally, the Silver Spring, Md., native has already set the program’s single-season record for doubles, while he is among the school’s single-season top 10 in at-bats, batting average, hits, runs scored, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and total bases. Park’s selection to the all-conference team marks the second-consecutive season he has been recognized by the league, as he garnered first-team honors last year.

A Roger Clemens Award Watch List selection, Kantakevich earned second-team all-conference honors as a relief pitcher after leading the league in saves. With nine saves, he equaled a single-season school record. Additionally, his 11 career saves is also tied for the program’s all-time record. The Rockville, Md., native finished the regular season with a 5-2 record and a 2.53 ERA, while he tallied 40 strikeouts in 46.1 IP. Kantakevich finished the season playing especially well, as he has allowed just six earned runs in his last 36.1 IP (1.49 ERA).

One of the top utility players in the league, Juliano also garnered second-team all-conference distinction. While he posted impressive numbers all season, the Northfield, N.J., native played especially well in conference action. Against league opponents, Juliano hit .404 with a .592 on-base percentage. The senior finished the season hitting .306 with a .496 on-base percentage and 23 runs scored.

Freshman RHP Tim Norton was selected to the All-Rookie Team after an impressive season on the mound for the Tribe. The Ramsey, N.J., native made 12 appearances and was tied for second on the team with eight starts. Through the first week of May, Norton had a 4-1 record with a 4.26 ERA.

The Tribe will begin its quest for the CAA Championship when it squares off against third-seeded George Mason on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. The double-elimination tournament will be held at Brooks Field in Wilmington, N.C.

All-CAA First Team

C – Mark Carver, UNC Wilmington
1B – Mike Sheridan, William & Mary
2B – Daniel Hargrave, UNC Wilmington
SS – Mike Lyon, Northeastern
3B – Nate Hall, UNC Wilmington
OF – Jason Appel, UNC Wilmington
OF – Brett Sellers, James Madison
OF – Ben Guez, William & Mary
DH – Derek Simmons, Georgia State
UT – Mike Tamsin, Northeastern
SP – Brad Holt, UNC Wilmington
SP – Jeff Hatcher, UNC Wilmington
RP – Sheldon McDonald, Northeastern


All-CAA Second Team

C – Tim Park, William & Mary
1B – Steven Caseres, James Madison
2B – Jean-Michel Rochon-Salvas, Georgia State
SS – Nick Natoli, Towson
3B – Bradley Logan, Georgia State
OF – Jimmy Miles, Old Dominion
OF – Scott Krieger, George Mason
OF – Brian Conley, Towson
DH – David Burns, Old Dominion
UT – Paul Juliano, William & Mary
SP – Dan Hudson, Old Dominion
SP – Anthony Shawler, Old Dominion
RP – Pat Kantakevich, William & Mary


All-CAA Third Team

C – Jason Stifler, Towson
1B – Justin Bour, George Mason
2B – Joe Lake, James Madison
SS – Chase Childers, Georgia State
3B – Matt Prokopowicz, Hofstra
OF – Adam Tsakonas, Delaware
OF – Alex Foltz, James Madison
OF – Anthony Shawler, Old Dominion
DH – Matt Collins, Towson
UT – Alex Buchholz, Delaware
SP – Dan Gerjets, George Mason
SP – Robinson Polanco, Georgia State
RP – Ryan Brecko, George Mason


All-Rookie Team

Eric Curtis, VCU
Austin Harclerode, Towson
Stephen Harrold, UNC Wilmington
David Herbek, James Madison
Trevor Knight, James Madison
McKinnon Langston, James Madison
Kevin Munson, James Madison
Tim Norton, William & Mary
Drew Permison, Towson
Turner Phelps, James Madison
Cameron Roth, UNC Wilmington
Cody Stanley, UNC Wilmington

Player of the Year: Mark Carver, UNC Wilmington
Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Natoli, Towson
Rookie of the Year: Cameron Roth, UNC Wilmington
Co-Coaches of the Year: Bill Brown, George Mason and Mark Scalf, UNC Wilmington