May 8, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Bay City, Mich. - Mercyhurst baseball landed seven players on the GLIAC Baseball All-Conference Teams Thursday afternoon, and senior James Ludwig headlined the group by making his first appearance on the first team.

Ludwig was the lone relief pitcher to earn a spot on the All-GLIAC First Team. It is his third all-conference honor as he was an honorable mention pick in 2006 and a second team selection in 2007.

Senior shortstop Dan Bertolini, outfielders Joe Luli and Jamie Walczak, and starting pitcher Steve Grife landed on the All-GLIAC Second Team. Senior pitchers John Morris and Wes Craig were named All-GLIAC Honorable Mention.

Mercyhurst's seven honorees tied for second most of any team with Saginaw Valley State and Ashland, trailing only Grand Valley State, which put eight players on the postseason teams. It also marks the most all-conference honorees for the Lakers since nine players were picked in 2006.

With 26 appearances, Ludwig led the GLIAC in appearances and set the Mercyhurst single season record for the second-straight season. He also led the conference in games finished with 16 and runners picked off with nine. Ludwig posted a 2.63 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 37.2 innings.

Bertolini earned a spot on the second team after being an honorable mention pick last year. The senior shortstop hit .319 in 51 starts, but was even better in the field, leading the league with 136 assists and tying for first in double plays with 29.

Luli is no stranger to postseason awards as he was picked for the third time in his three-year stint at Mercyhurst. It is also his second-straight second team selection. Luli was slowed by injuries early but had torrid final month at the plate to lead the Lakers with a .364 batting average. he also recorded a team-leading five homers and 31 RBIs.

While injuries plagued the Lakers early in the season, Walczak proved to be a mainstay as he was one of only two players to start all 52 games for the Lakers this season. He earned his first All-GLIAC mention after hitting .352 and ranking in the top 10 in the conference in hits, steals and at bats.

Grife--an honorable mention pick in 2007 as a reliever--was named to the second team in his first full season as a starter while leading the GLIAC in strikeouts, ranking second in ERA, third in opponent batting average, innings pitched, strikeouts per game and hits allowed per game.

He posted a 6-5 record but received only 1.2 runs of support in his five losses. He also totaled seven complete games and two shutouts.

A two-time second team selection, Morris returned to the All-GLIAC team after an injury-filled 2007 season. He tied for second in the GLIAC in saves with six, bringing his career total to a school-record 19.

Craig was honored for the first time in his two-year stay at Mercyhurst. He posted a 5-3 record and a 4.47 ERA in 11 starts during his senior campaign.

As a team, the Lakers posted their fourth-straight winning season with a 27-25 record.