A trio of Rockets has been selected to the 2012 Preseason All-Buckeye State Baseball Team.
Junior right-handed pitcher Mike Hamann has been named to the first team, while senior outfielder Ben Hammer and senior third baseman Joe Corfman have been chosen to the second team.A 2010 second-team all-league selection, Hamann started nine games last spring before suffering a season-ending arm injury. The Rockets’ ace sported a 2-3 record with a 1.96 ERA, surrendering 13 runs (all earned) on 47 hits with 51 strikeouts in 59.2 innings of work. The third-year hurler ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in opponent batting average (.213, 47 for 221) and ERA, sixth in strikeouts per start (7.69), and seventh in innings pitched per start (6.63).
A 2011 second-team All-MAC honoree and 2012 College Sports Madness Preseason All-MAC selection, Hammer hit .330 with 26 runs scored, a team-high 10 doubles, one home run, 27 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 54 games last spring. The Wayne, Ohio, native ranked eighth in the conference in on-base percentage (.416) and 10th in batting average. Hammer hit safely in 39 contests, including a team-high 21 multi-hit and a squad-best six multi-RBI efforts.
A 2010 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Mideast Region first-team honoree, Corfman batted .266 with 27 runs scored, seven two-base hits, one home run, 22 RBI and a team-high 13 thefts in 48 contests last spring. He hit safely in 32 games, including 14 multi-hit and four multi-RBI efforts.
The Rockets begin full team practice Friday, Jan. 27, and open their regular season Friday, Feb. 17, at Western Kentucky.