Five former Etta Express players named to the Division III Championship All-Time All-Tournament Team

May 27, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - The names are familiar to Etta Express fans and roll off the tongue with pride.

Brandts. Talarico. Witouski. Pancher. Katschke.

Each one is legendary among the many greats that have worn the pinstripes at Marietta. But now each one can add another accomplishment to their long baseball resumes.

All five former Marietta College baseball players were named to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship All-Time All-Tournament Team.

The 30th annual NCAA Division III Baseball Championship is being held this weekend (May 27-31) at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis. In conjunction with the event, a committee of Sports Information Directors compiled a list of the top tournament performances and voted on a first and second team, as well as honorable mentions.
 
Five current MC Hall of Fame members were selected to the All-Time All-Tournament Team — with All-American third baseman Mike Brandts ’87, the lone first-team choice.

Brandts, a key figure in the Etta Express’ 1986 NCAA Championship, was one of 14 selected to the first team. Brandts, who also played on two national runners-up teams in 1984 and 1985, went 18-of-53 (.340) with 20 runs scored, a double, three triples, three home runs and 13 RBI in 15 games at the Championship. He was named World Series MVP in 1986. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the ninth round in 1986.

Outfielder Mark Talarico ’83 joins 16 other players who were given second-team honors. Talarico, a three-time All-American with four NCAA World Series appearances during his time at Marietta, led the Etta Express to titles in 1981 and 1983. During his 13 games at the national championship, Talarico went 17-of-49 (.347) with 12 runs scored, five doubles and eight RBI. After graduating from Marietta, Talarico played professionally in Italy.

Marietta’s Drew Witouski ‘88, Jim Pancher ‘83 and Jim Katschke ‘86 were three of 10 players given honorable mention honors.

Witouski participated in three national championships, winning a World Series ring in 1986. The All-American catcher batted .323 (20-of-62) with 17 runs scored, two doubles, a home run and nine RBI in 15 World Series games.  

Pancher was a three-year participant in the World Series, winning two national titles, including one in 1983 when he was selected the MVP of the championship. The All-American infielder batted .488 (21-of-43) with 15 runs scored, four doubles and 10 RBI in 11 games.

Katschke wore the pinstripes to the mound for four straight years at the World Series. The three-time All-American appeared in nine games and finished 5-0 with two complete games and a save. In 49.3 innings of work, Katschke allowed 56 hits, while striking out 25 and posting a 4.38 ERA. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers after the 1986 season.

Marietta made 18 appearances in the National Championship, taking home three titles (‘81, ‘83, ‘86) and finishing runner-up seven times (‘75, ‘78, ‘80, ‘84, ‘85, ‘01, ‘02).  

The All-Time All Tournament Team includes 17 of 29 Championship MVPs. Eighteen schools and 25 Championship teams are represented. Seven players played in one series, 14 played in two, 15 played in three and seven players played in a Championship in all four years of eligibility.  

Twelve of the Championship teams placed at least two players on the All-Time All-Tournament Team. Two teams had four players, 1983 Marietta and 1994 Wisconsin-Oshkosh, both Championship Teams. Seven players were unanimous selections.  

A committee selected the All-Time All-Tournament Team with a SID representative from each region and two at-large members. The members of the selection committee were: John Arenberg, Emory (South), Doug Aiken, Chapman  (West), Jim Dixon (At-Large), B.L. Elfring, Southern Maine (New England), Mike Falk, Muhlenberg (At-Large), Brian Kipley, Aurora (Central), Dan May, Marietta (Mideast), Mike Scala, Montclair State (Mid-Atlantic), Keenan Timm, Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Midwest), Mike Warwick, Ithaca (New York).