Nine Pioneers named All-OAC in baseball
League coaches voted five Marietta players to first team

May 13, 2005
TWINSBURG, Ohio - The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) office announced the 2005 baseball special award winners and All-OAC teams this afternoon (May 13). The League coaches voted nine Pioneers All-OAC, including senior Chris Sidick (Cecil, PA/Canon McMillan), who was named the Jack Rafeld Player of the Year and junior Mike DeMark (Jeanette, PA/Penn-Trafford), who earned the Kent Tekulve Pitcher of the Year.

Joining Sidick and DeMark on first team were seniors Justin Papania (Butler, PA) and Mike Mooney (Pittsburgh, PA/Shady Side Academy) and junior Lee Guerrera (Wolcott, CT). In addition, freshmen Zack Welch (Vincent/Warren) and Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp., MI/Clintondale) earned second team honors, while sophomore Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, MI), and junior Justin Steranka (Pittsburgh, PA/Mt. Lebanon) were given honorable mention.

As of May 12, Sidick was leading the team in batting average (.391), slugging percentage (.775), on-base percentage (.509), runs scored (51), triples (7), home runs (11), total bases (107), walks (31) and stolen bases (26). Sidick, a three-time All-OAC selection, was ranked in the top-five of the Conference in batting average, hits, runs scored, triples, home runs, total bases and stolen bases. Sidick was named to the Rawlings ABCA All-America second team a year ago.

Marietta pitchers swept the first team honors in 2005.

DeMark improved his overall mark to 10-0 after a complete-game win on the opening day of the OAC Tournament. Overall, DeMark has appeared in 16 contests, starting 10, with four complete games and two saves in 73.2 innings of work. He leads the team and the OAC with 74 strikeouts on the year. DeMark, a 2004 All-OAC selection, was named to the Rawlings ABCA All-America second team a year ago.

Papania was a second team honoree a year ago. Entering his start Friday, the senior carried a team-best 1.12 ERA. In 11 appearances and 48.0 innings of work, he was 5-2 with four complete games and 41 strikeouts.

Mooney is 10-2 on the spring with 44 strikeouts and a 3.04 ERA in 71.0 innings of action. The senior, who was named first team for the second straight season, leads the team in appearances (17) and starts (14).

Guerrera, a first time selection, has had a solid season both offensively and defensively in 2005. The junior catcher was hitting .357 (45-of-126), with 29 runs, 10 doubles, two triples and 34 RBI after Thursday's action. He has fielded .992 behind the plate, while throwing out 15 of 32 runners attempting to steal.

Welch and Piconke have made immediate impacts as freshmen for the Pioneers. Welch, Marietta's shortstop, entered the weekend batting .350 (41-of-117) with 22 runs, six doubles, and 19 RBI. Piconke was second on the squad with a .386 batting average. The left fielder leads the team in hits (59), doubles (11) and RBI (39), while also totaling six triples, and 43 runs scored.

Steranka and Belanger both earned All-Conference recognition for the first time in 2005. As of Thursday, Steranka was hitting .311 (42-of-135) with eight home runs, three triples, 10 doubles and 37 RBI. Belanger, the Etta Express' second baseman, has batted .344 (33-of-96) with 28 runs and 22 RBI through Marietta's first 40 games.

Marietta (31-8-1) wrapped up the OAC regular season title in 2005 and is presently attempting to capture the Tournament championship this weekend at Pioneer Park.