2008 All-NAC Baseball Awards Position Player of the Year:   J.D. Rotzoll, Concordia Univ. Chicago Pitcher of the Year:   Nick Raddant, Marian University Rookie of the Year:   Jake Thompson, Benedictine University Coach of the Year:   John Ostrowski, Benedictine University [complete awards listing]

All-Northern Athletics Conference Baseball Team released
WAUKESHA, Wis. -- The Northern Athletics Conference has released its baseball All-Conference awards for the 2008 season. All awards were voted on by the head coaches of the NAC.

Benedictine University's John Ostrowski was named Northern Athletics Conference Coach of the Year. Ostrowski's Eagles, who were picked to seventh in the coaches' preseason poll, won a share of the NAC regular season title with a 17-5 conference record (26-17 overall). The Eagles finished third in the 2008 NAC Baseball Tournament this past weekend. Earlier in the season Coach Ostrowski became the 11th coach in NCAA Division III history to amass 800 victories.

Concordia University Chicago's J.D. Rotzoll (Mount Prospect, Ill.) was named the NAC Position Player of the Year for 2008. The senior catcher led the conference in hitting with a .450 average, recording 81 hits in 45 games. Rotzoll is a national leader and led the NAC in the following categories: hits (81), runs (57), RBI (53), doubles (25), home runs (11), total bases (145), on base percentage (.528) and slugging percentage (.806). Rotzoll's Cougars (32-13, 15-7 NAC) finished in a three-way tie for third place, and took second in the NAC Tournament.

Nick Raddant (Shawano, Wis.) of Marian University (19-19, 15-7 NAC) was named Northern Athletics Conference Pitcher of the Year. The junior right-hander tied two others for most wins with seven, and compiled a 7-2 record this season in 11 appearances. His 77.0 innings pitched led the conference, averaging 7.0 innings pitched per game. Raddant also had 59 strikeouts, third best in the NAC. In conference-only games, his 46 strikeouts were tops in the conference. He finished the season with a 4.09 ERA.

Benedictine's Jake Thompson (Woodridge, Ill.) was named Rookie of the Year. The right-hander had a 2.98 ERA in 11 appearances, third best in the conference, and amassed a 4-4 record. In conference-only games, the rookies' .184 opponents' batting average was best in the NAC, and .236 average in overall games was third best.

See the complete listing for the 15 member All-NAC First Team, Honorable Mention selections, and the 10 member All-Rookie Team.

Northern Athletics Conference, Sports Information Department, May 13, 2008.