ALL-AMERICA TEAM LIST
FULL SCHOLAR ATHLETE LIST
Kansas City,
Mo. –
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
announced its baseball All-American teams today and three Crusaders
were honored. Leading the way for MU was senior closer John
McCracken who was tabbed to both the honorable mention
All-America squad as well as the all-American Scholar Athlete team.
McCracken (Pinckney,
Mich.) led the WHAC in saves with nine. His nine saves also tied the right
hander for the most in a single season in school history. He also led MU with a
1.59 ERA in 22 innings, striking out 23 hitters along the way.
A converted infielder,
McCracken made the switch to the mound last season and ended his career with 10
saves, good for third place all-time in the Madonna annals. McCracken also stood
out in the classroom, earning the scholar athlete nod by posting a 3.70 grade
point average in psychology and mental health. The WHAC’s all-conference pick as
a reliever is the only player from the conference to be selected to any of the
NAIA’s All-America teams for on-field performance.
Joining McCracken on the
scholar athlete squad were fellow seniors Ryan Bardoni (Warren, Mich.)
and Mike Cauzillo (West Bloomfield, Mich.). Bardoni – who has a
3.50 GPA in criminal justice – went 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA this season for the
Crusaders. Cauzillo – the owner of a 3.56 average in graphic design – posted a
.306 batting average with two doubles while scoring 14 runs.
To be selected for this
honor, a student-athlete must posses a 3.50 or higher cumulative grade point
average and be a junior or senior in academic standing at his/her institution of
higher learning.
MU captured both the WHAC
regular season and tournament championships in 2008, winning both for the third
time in four seasons. The 37 wins the royal and gold posted are the most since
the 2005 club put up 40 victories.
