MANSFIELD, Pa. - The Shippensburg University baseball team had three of its players on Tuesday receive 2009 ABCA/Rawlings “Gold Glove” awards from the Atlantic Regional committee. The Raiders have had five regional “Gold Glove” selections over the past two seasons under head coach Matt Jones.

A pair of freshmen, third baseman Ben Miller and right fielder Cody Kulp, were first-team selections while sophomore shortstop Steve McCardell was a second-team pick. Shippensburg and Mercyhurst were the only PSAC schools to have multiple first-team selections on the squads that annually award athletes for their stellar defensive play around the diamond.

The trio routinely fielded their respective positions this season while often making excellent defensive plays when ranging away from their typical spots on the field. A total of just 17 errors were committed by the three men over the course of 426 chances, equaling a fielding percentage of .960.

2009 ABCA/RAWLINGS “GOLDEN GLOVE AWARD” NCAA DIVISION II ATLANTIC REGION

First Team

CATCHER — Bob Stumpo, West Chester       
1ST BASEMAN — Nick Testa, Davis and Elkins   
2ND BASEMAN — Michael Kacelowicz, Kutztown
3RD BASEMAN — Ben Miller, Shippensburg
SHORTSTOP — Josh Bower, West Virginia State
OUTFIELD — Eric Workman, West Virginia State
OUTFIELD — Jamie Walczak, Mercyhurst
OUTFIELD — Cody Kulp, Shippensburg
PITCHER — Steve Grife, Mercyhurst

Second Team         

CATCHER — Pat Trettel, Seton Hill   
1ST BASEMAN — Zack Solly, Fairmont State
2ND BASEMAN — Joe Wendle, West Chester
3RD BASEMAN — Ethan Santora, Mercyhurst
SHORTSTOP — Steve McCardell, Shippensburg
OUTFIELD — Brooke Cullen, Concord
OUTFIELD — Mike Bortz, East Stroudsburg
OUTFIELD — Shane Melhorn, IUP   
PITCHER — Chris Zelko, Mansfield