UT baseball represented on College Sports Madness Preseason All-MAC Team

January 20, 2012 | News, UToday
By Brian DeBenedictis



Three players from the Toledo baseball program have been selected to the College Sports Madness Preseason All-Mid-American Conference Team.

Ben Hammer, left, Mark Lapikas, center, and Dan Zuchowski represent Toledo on the 2012 College Sports Madness Preseason All-MAC Team.

Senior outfielder Ben Hammer has been named to the first team, senior infielder Mark Lapikas was chosen to the second team, and newcomer infielder/pitcher Dan Zuchowski was picked as the MAC Freshman of the Year.

A 2011 second-team All-MAC honoree, 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 2011 second-team all-league selection, Lapikas batted .288 with 26 runs scored, eight two-base hits, a team-high seven home runs and a squad-best 31 RBI in 44 contests last spring. The Youngstown, Ohio, native ranked seventh in the MAC in round trippers, and he hit safely in 30 games, including 11 multi-hit and five multi-RBI efforts.

A 2011 graduate of Bishop Foley Catholic High School, Zuchowski hit .570 with nine home runs and 20 stolen bases as a senior, leading his team to a 39-3 record and a state championship. He also was credited with the win on the mound in state finals, en route to earning first-team all-league, first-team all-region, first-team all-district and first-team all-state recognition.

The Rockets open their 2012 spring campaign Friday, Feb. 17, at Western Kentucky.

College Sports Madness covers all aspects of college sports from recruiting right up through the draft for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball and softball.

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