May 24, 2009

LORAIN, Ohio- At the conclusion of Sunday's 2009 Horizon League Championship at The Pipe Yard, five UIC baseball student-athletes were named to the league's all-tournament team.

Senior pitcher Mike Kool, senior second baseman Tony Altavilla, sophomore infielder Andy Leonard, sophomore outfielder John Rosinski and senior designated hitter Brett Schaefer represented UIC's conference postseason award-winning contingent.

Kool pitched the Flames to Sunday's winner-take-all championship game by tossing a complete-game shutout in a 4-0 win over Wright State on May 23. He matched a career-high with eight strikeouts in a dominant performance.

Altavilla hit. 300 (6-for-20) and drove in six runs during UIC's five tournament games. He had a 4-for-5, three-RBI day as the leadoff hitter against Milwaukee on May 23.

Leonard showed off his versatility this weekend. The Flames' usual starting shortstop played three games at third base while UIC dealt with illness and injury to five starters in the last four days. The second-year Stagg product not only provided stout defense on the left side of the infield, he had a pair of doubles to run his team-leading season total to 22.

Rosinski had a day to remember on May 23. In two elimination games, the New Trier grad went 8-for-10 (.800) with seven RBI in a pair of wins that brought UIC to its third straight title game appearance. In Saturday's first game, Rosinski tied a league tournament record by going 6-for-6 with six RBI against Milwaukee.

All four of the players mentioned above were selected to the league's all-tourney team for the first time in their respective careers.

Schaefer was named to the league's all-tournament team for the second consecutive season. This year he hit a team-high .591 (13-for-22) with four doubles, a homer and eight RBI in five tourney games. In the last two seasons he has hit .649 (24-for-37) with 15 RBI in nine league championship contests.

2009 HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
P - Alex Kaminsky (Wright State, Jr.)
P - Mike Kool (UIC, Sr.)
C - Garrett Gray (Wright State, Fr.)
1B - Jeff Mercer (Wright State, Sr.)
2B - Tony Altavilla (UIC, Sr.)
SS - R.J. Gundolff (Wright State, Jr.)
3B - Andy Leonard (UIC, So.)
OF - Ryan Ashe (Wright State, Fr.) - MVP
OF - John Rosinski (UIC, So.)
OF - Kory Twede (Wright State, Sr.)
DH - Brett Schaefer (UIC, Sr.)

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