Ball State University Athletics
Baseball Selects Captains For 2008 Season
December 06, 2007 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State baseball team has named Kyle Heyne, Tyler Pritchard and Wayne Bond as team captains for the 2008 season.
"I have a great deal of confidence in the leadership these three guys, who were chosen by their teammates, will provide," Ball State coach Greg Beals says. "Tyler and Kyle are two pitchers, one starter and one reliever, who have been around the block and know what it takes to be a champion. Wayne being a position player brings an intensity to the field every day that we need and can all feed off of."
Heyne, a fifth-year senior closer, decided to return for his final season at Ball State after the Minnesota Twins drafted him in the 27th round of the 2007 draft. He enters the 2008 season tied for first place on Ball State's all-time saves list with 24 in his career. Last season, also as a captain, Heyne compiled 10 saves and a 5-3 record to go along with a 2.31 ERA.
Pritchard, a senior right-handed pitcher, has been in the Cardinals' weekend rotation for two seasons. He made only eight starts in an injury-shortened 2007 season but bounced back with a strong fall campaign to earn the team's Most Valuable Pitcher award. In his last full season as a starter, Pritchard went 7-3 with a 4.93 ERA as a sophomore in 2006.
Bond, a senior center fielder, enters his second year at Ball State after joining the Cardinals in 2007 as a transfer from Lincoln Trail College. He started 52 games last season, hitting .309 with five home runs and 23 RBI.
In addition to naming team captains, the Cardinals have also wrapped up their fall season and handed out their fall awards:
Most Valuable Player -- Dean Anna, Jr., SS (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East)
Most Valuable Pitcher -- Tyler Pritchard, Sr., RHP (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon)
Rookie Award -- Kolbrin Vitek, Fr., RHP/1B (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan)
Most Improved Player -- Shannon McCormick, R-Fr., INF (Muncie, Ind./Burris)
Most Improved Pitcher -- Heath Riley, R-Fr., RHP (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson)
