Postseason honors roll in for Cougar baseball team
RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- The Concordia Chicago baseball team's 32-win season, best in the program's history, has not gone unnoticed by either local or national baseball observers. Several of the Cougars have been recipients of the various post-season awards, highlighted by the announcements of the American Baseball Coaches' Association all-region team and the D3baseball.com All-American team earlier this week.

Senior first baseman/catcher J.D. Rotzoll (Mount Prospect, IL – Prospect H.S.) was honored by both organizations for his superb season, earning third-team All-American honors from D3baseball.com and first-team Central region honors from ABCA. Previously, Rotzoll had been named as the Northern Athletics Conference Position Player of the Year and a second-team Midwest region Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine. Rotzoll was also named the Division III National Hitter of the Week for April 21-27 when he hit .565 with six homers in a six-game stretch for the Cougars.

“I'm very happy to see J.D. get some national recognition on top of the regional honors,” remarked ninth-year head coach Spiro Lempesis. “He's very deserving of these honors as evidenced by his position among the national leaders in several categories. It's a great finish to his collegiate career, and I'm hoping that he might get the opportunity to take the next step into the professional ranks.”

Rotzoll finished the season with many stats that put him among the Division III national leaders. His 81 hits tied for fifth most in the country, and his .450 batting average was good for 29th place. Rotzoll's 25 doubles tied him for the national lead, and his 145 total bases put him in a tie for fourth place. In addition, he ranked 21st in slugging percentage (.806) and 23rd in runs scored (57). All in all, Rotzoll set seven new season or career records for Concordia in 2008.

Four Cougars in addition to Rotzoll took ABCA All-Central region honors, three of them earning a place on the second team. Phil Seris (St. Louis, MO – Lutheran North H.S.) earned his second consecutive second-team honor for a .351 (60-171) batting average this season with nine homers, 52 RBIs and a .585 slugging percentage. The Cougars' designated hitter's regional honor comes on the heels of a first-team all-conference honor and a first-team regional Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine.

Sophomores Brandon Isaac (Matteson, IL – Marian Catholic H.S.) and Matt Kudlik (Park Ridge, IL – Notre Dame H.S.) earned regional honors for the first time in their collegiate careers. Isaac, the Cougars' regular third baseman after playing primarily in the outfield in 2007, anchored the clean-up spot in the batting order and hit .344 (56-163) with 50 RBIs, giving him 106 RBIs in his first 86 career games.

Kudlik's first full season with the Cougars established him as one of the best underclassmen pitchers in the region. He threw 63 innings and went 6-1 with a 2.71 ERA, the latter stat putting him second in the NAC among regular starters. Kudlik struck out 63 and walked just 18, and opponents were held to a .223 batting average when facing him.

Carl Petersen (DesPlaines, IL – Maine West H.S.) was named third-team all-region for the second time in his collegiate career (2006 being the first). The senior right-hander went 7-2 with a 3.03 ERA in 74 1/3 innings this season, striking out 57 and walking just 12. Petersen finished his Cougar career with 241 innings and a 21-7 record after converting from an infield starter late in his freshman year.

“I'm very pleased that several of our players were recognized by the voters in a region that is loaded with outstanding talented players,” stated Lempesis. “It's great to see Carl land another honor in his final season. I look forward to Phil, Brandon and Matt being back next year as they will have greater leadership roles on the team and will play important roles if we are to continue progressing as a program.”

Courtesy of Concordia University Chicago, Sports Information Department, May 22, 2008.