Eastern Michigan Athletics
Pair of Eagles Pick Up All-MAC Recognition
5/23/2017 6:56:00 PM | Baseball
Seniors Sam Delaplane and John Montgomery were honored by the Conference
AVON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) - Seniors Sam Delaplane (San Jose, Calif.-Leigh) and John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra) were named to the Mid-American Conference Baseball First Team and Second Team, respectively, the league office announced today, May 23, in a vote by the league's head coaches. The honors are the first all-conference accolades for each of the two players.
It is the second season in a row that EMU has had two players selected for all-conference honors, the first time that has happened for the Eagles since 2011-12.
Delaplane has led the Eagles pitching staff in his final season in the Green and White. The closer turned Friday night starter leads EMU with a 2.83 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 18 appearances (10 starts) and 76.1 innings. His ERA ranks third in the conference, while his strikeout total is second in the MAC. His 82 this season are also the 10th-most in a single EMU season. Earlier this season, he was also named a MAC Pitcher of the Week, April 17, after a complete game win over Ohio University in which he struck out a career-high 12 batters.
The honor is a perfect cap for what has been an outstanding EMU career for Delaplane. His 200 career strikeouts rank 11th in Eastern Michigan laurels, while he also has 10 saves, which ranks tied for fourth all-time at EMU. In total, he owns a 3.99 ERA in 189.2 career innings.
Montgomery has been the catalyst for Eastern on the offensive side of the field this year, as he put together the best regular season in his four years in 2017. The outfielder has seen action in every game but one, starting 53. Heading into the tournament, Montgomery leads the Eagles with a .517 slugging percentage, 62 hits, 44 RBI's, 109 total bases, and 12 home runs, while also coming in second with a .294 batting average. In addition, he tops EMU with 14 multi-hit games, and six three-RBI contests.
The long ball has been the big lefty's top threat when stepping to the plate, as his 12 dingers ranks second in the conference and 96th in the country. His 20 career home runs are tied for 19th all-time at Eastern as well.
The Eagles continue their 2017 season at the MAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed. EMU begins play tomorrow against the No. 6 seeded Western Michigan University Broncos. First pitch from Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio is set for approximately 9:30 a.m.
MAC Player of the Year
Tanner Allison, Western Michigan, Jr., OF
MAC Pitcher of the Year
Joey Murray, Kent State, So., RHP
MAC Freshman of the Year
Jake Wilson, Bowling Green, Fr., OF
MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year
Tyler Hankins, Central Michigan, Fr., LHP
MAC Defensive Player of the Year
Tyler Finkler, Ohio, Sr., SS
MAC Coach of the Year
Jeff Duncan, Kent State
All-MAC First Team
C: Robert Greenman, Sr., Central Michigan
1B: Dylan Rosa, Jr., Kent State
2B: Sean Kennedy, Sr., Ball State
3B: Chris Kwitzer, R-Jr.,Buffalo
SS: Ben Haefner, R-Jr., Buffalo
OF: Luke Burch, R-Sr., Kent State
OF: Spencer Ibarra, Sr., Ohio
OF: Tanner Allison, Jr., Western Michigan
SP: Sam Delaplane, Sr., Eastern Michigan
SP: Joey Murray, So., Kent State
SP: Eli Kraus, Jr., Kent State
SP: Michael Klein, R-Jr., Ohio
RP: Jake Roehn, R-Jr., Ohio
DH : Tyler Harris, Sr., Miami
At-Large: Daniel Jipping, Jr., Central Michigan
All-MAC Second Team
C: Tim Dalporto, Jr., Kent State
1B: Ross Haffey, R-Jr., Miami
2B: Nick Vogelmeier, Sr., Western Michigan
3B: Connor Callery, Sr., Ohio
SS: Connor Smith, So., Western Michigan
OF: Matt Eppers, Sr., Ball State
OF: Mason Mamarella, R-Jr., Kent State
OF: John Montgomery, Sr., Eastern Michigan
SP: Pat Leatherman, So., Central Michigan
SP: Tyler Hankins, Fr., Central Michigan
SP: Joe Hawks, Sr., Northern Illinois
SP: Ross Achter, Sr., Toledo
RP: Colton Bradley, Jr., Central Michigan
DH: Vinny Mallaro, Sr., Buffalo
At-Large: Caleb Stayton, Sr., Ball State
MAC All-Defensive Team
C: Tim Dalporto, Jr., Kent State
1B: Rudy Rott, So., Ohio
2B: Dom Iero, Sr., Kent State
SS: Tyler Finkler, Sr., Ohio
3B: Grant Miller, Sr., Western Michigan
OF: Matt Eppers, Sr., Ball State
OF: Alex Thrower, Sr., Buffalo
OF: Spencer Ibarra, Sr., Ohio
P: Zac Carey, Jr., Bowling Green
It is the second season in a row that EMU has had two players selected for all-conference honors, the first time that has happened for the Eagles since 2011-12.
Delaplane has led the Eagles pitching staff in his final season in the Green and White. The closer turned Friday night starter leads EMU with a 2.83 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 18 appearances (10 starts) and 76.1 innings. His ERA ranks third in the conference, while his strikeout total is second in the MAC. His 82 this season are also the 10th-most in a single EMU season. Earlier this season, he was also named a MAC Pitcher of the Week, April 17, after a complete game win over Ohio University in which he struck out a career-high 12 batters.
The honor is a perfect cap for what has been an outstanding EMU career for Delaplane. His 200 career strikeouts rank 11th in Eastern Michigan laurels, while he also has 10 saves, which ranks tied for fourth all-time at EMU. In total, he owns a 3.99 ERA in 189.2 career innings.
Montgomery has been the catalyst for Eastern on the offensive side of the field this year, as he put together the best regular season in his four years in 2017. The outfielder has seen action in every game but one, starting 53. Heading into the tournament, Montgomery leads the Eagles with a .517 slugging percentage, 62 hits, 44 RBI's, 109 total bases, and 12 home runs, while also coming in second with a .294 batting average. In addition, he tops EMU with 14 multi-hit games, and six three-RBI contests.
The long ball has been the big lefty's top threat when stepping to the plate, as his 12 dingers ranks second in the conference and 96th in the country. His 20 career home runs are tied for 19th all-time at Eastern as well.
The Eagles continue their 2017 season at the MAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed. EMU begins play tomorrow against the No. 6 seeded Western Michigan University Broncos. First pitch from Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio is set for approximately 9:30 a.m.
Hear from 2017 All-MAC First Teamer @samdelaplane on his all-conference honor! #EMUBats #RiseUp #MACtion pic.twitter.com/vPSjl7jfT3
— EMU Baseball (@EMU_Baseball) May 24, 2017
Hear from 2017 All-MAC Second Teamer John Montgomery on his all-conference honor! #EMUBats #RiseUp #MACtion pic.twitter.com/cBq4loc7uj
— EMU Baseball (@EMU_Baseball) May 24, 2017
MAC Player of the Year
Tanner Allison, Western Michigan, Jr., OF
MAC Pitcher of the Year
Joey Murray, Kent State, So., RHP
MAC Freshman of the Year
Jake Wilson, Bowling Green, Fr., OF
MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year
Tyler Hankins, Central Michigan, Fr., LHP
MAC Defensive Player of the Year
Tyler Finkler, Ohio, Sr., SS
MAC Coach of the Year
Jeff Duncan, Kent State
All-MAC First Team
C: Robert Greenman, Sr., Central Michigan
1B: Dylan Rosa, Jr., Kent State
2B: Sean Kennedy, Sr., Ball State
3B: Chris Kwitzer, R-Jr.,Buffalo
SS: Ben Haefner, R-Jr., Buffalo
OF: Luke Burch, R-Sr., Kent State
OF: Spencer Ibarra, Sr., Ohio
OF: Tanner Allison, Jr., Western Michigan
SP: Sam Delaplane, Sr., Eastern Michigan
SP: Joey Murray, So., Kent State
SP: Eli Kraus, Jr., Kent State
SP: Michael Klein, R-Jr., Ohio
RP: Jake Roehn, R-Jr., Ohio
DH : Tyler Harris, Sr., Miami
At-Large: Daniel Jipping, Jr., Central Michigan
All-MAC Second Team
C: Tim Dalporto, Jr., Kent State
1B: Ross Haffey, R-Jr., Miami
2B: Nick Vogelmeier, Sr., Western Michigan
3B: Connor Callery, Sr., Ohio
SS: Connor Smith, So., Western Michigan
OF: Matt Eppers, Sr., Ball State
OF: Mason Mamarella, R-Jr., Kent State
OF: John Montgomery, Sr., Eastern Michigan
SP: Pat Leatherman, So., Central Michigan
SP: Tyler Hankins, Fr., Central Michigan
SP: Joe Hawks, Sr., Northern Illinois
SP: Ross Achter, Sr., Toledo
RP: Colton Bradley, Jr., Central Michigan
DH: Vinny Mallaro, Sr., Buffalo
At-Large: Caleb Stayton, Sr., Ball State
MAC All-Defensive Team
C: Tim Dalporto, Jr., Kent State
1B: Rudy Rott, So., Ohio
2B: Dom Iero, Sr., Kent State
SS: Tyler Finkler, Sr., Ohio
3B: Grant Miller, Sr., Western Michigan
OF: Matt Eppers, Sr., Ball State
OF: Alex Thrower, Sr., Buffalo
OF: Spencer Ibarra, Sr., Ohio
P: Zac Carey, Jr., Bowling Green
Players Mentioned
RHP
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