Three Marietta baseball players named All-Mideast Region
Piconke named to first team, while Belanger and Eschbaugh earn third team honors

May 23, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — The 2007 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region Teams were announced Wednesday (May 23) afternoon and three Marietta College baseball players earned recognition. Junior Tony Piconke (Clinton Twp., Mich./Clintondale) was named to the first team, while senior Ryan Belanger (Coldwater, Mich.) and freshman Nate Eschbaugh (Marietta) were selected to the third team.

The National Champion Pioneers, ranked No. 7 in the latest ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Poll, are currently 32-15. Marietta won its 20th Mideast Regional title last week and is making its 19th trip to the NCAA Division III World Series.

50 players were selected to one of the three All-Mideast Region teams. First-team All-Mideast Region players are automatically considered for All-American honors, which will be announced Thursday (May 24) night at a banquet to kick off the NCAA Division III World Series at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, Wisconsin. Marietta has had at least one All-American in each of the last 32 years.

Piconke, a 2006 third team All-Region selection, had spearheaded the Etta Express’ offense all season. The first team All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) honoree enters World Series play leading Marietta in hitting (.361), at-bats (169), runs scored (44), hits (61), doubles (15), home runs (9), runs batted in (32) and stolen bases (12). The center fielder is the only Pioneer to play and all 47 games this spring.

Belanger was also a first team All-OAC player in 2007. The second baseman, who is away from the team to attend to a family matter, hit .357 (40-for-112) with eight doubles, one triple, one home run, 18 runs batted in and 23 runs scored in 32 games this season.

Eschbaugh is having a breakout season as a pitcher in 2007. The right-hander, who has appeared in 15 games, holds a record of 5-2 with two saves and a 2.89 ERA. He has made six starts and thrown two complete games. Eschbaugh has allowed 19 runs (17 earned) on 56 hits with 10 walks and 30 strikeouts in 53 innings of work.

Marietta begins its title defense Friday (May 25) afternoon against No. 1 Chapman (Calif.) (40-6). First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m. All of the action can be heard live on WMOA-AM 1490. The broadcast will be carried online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/onlinebroadcasts.html. In addition CSTV.com is expected to provide video of all games and live statistics are available on the host web site.