Three ThunderWolves earn ABCA all-region honors

PUEBLO, Colo. (May 18, 2009) - Three CSU-Pueblo baseball standouts have earned all-Central Region  honors from the American Baseball Coaches' Association (ABCA), the organization announced Monday morning.

Jason Fobes (Sr., Longmont, Colo.) earned first-team honors as the top outfielder selected, while starting pitcher Mario Mattivi (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) and catcher Tony Pechek (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) each earned second-team honors.

Because of his choice as a first-teamer, Fobes will now receive all-American consideration.  Fobes and Mattivi were previously selected as first-teamers on the Daktronics All-Central Region team, released last week, and will receive all-American consideration in that ballot, as well.

Fobes, who is in the running for a national batting title, hit .474 for the ThunderWolves in 2009, the second-highest single season batting average in the history of the program.  He led the Pack in hits with 93 and doubles with 27.  His .750 slugging percentage was also second-highest on the squad.

Mattivi, the Pack's win leader with nine during the 2009 season, boasted one of the top ERAs in the Central Region among starting pitchers with a 5.47 ERA.  In 97 innings pitched, Mattivi struck out 76 batters.

Pechek, the top hitting catcher in the region, hit .390 in 2009 as an everyday player for the Pack, splitting time between catcher and first base.  He knocked eight homers in 2009, finishing second on the team with 70 RBI and second with 90 hits.  His 231 at bats in 2009 were the fourth most in school history.

ABCA All-Central Region Team

Player of the Year: Matt Bodenchuk, Mesa State
Pitcher of the Year: Jake Schmidt, Concordia-St. Paul

First Team
1B: Andrew Kinney, Southwest Minnesota St.
2B: Kevin Becker, Mesa State
3B: David Olsen, Minnesota-Duluth
SS: Matt Bodenchuk, Mesa State
OF: Jason Fobes, CSU-Pueblo
OF: Joe Wendte, Wayne State
OF: J.T. Putt, Regis
OF: Derek West, Southwest Minnesota St.
P: Jake Schmidt, Concordia-St. Paul
P: Ryan Sheldon, Nebraska-Kearney
P: Chad Moreland, Wayne State
P: Logan Burr, St. Cloud St.
RP: Nathan Kafka, Minnesota St.-Mankato
DH: Jason Carr, New Mexico Highlands
C: Chris Herbert, Concordia-St. Paul
IF: Eric Bond, Wayne State 

Second Team
1B: Crespin Perez, New Mexico Highlands
2B: Jay Bresnahan, Minnesota St.-Mankato
3B: Blake Cover, Nebraska-Kearney
SS: Jesus Arzaga, Regis
OF: Christian Garcia, New Mexico Highlands
OF: Mike Provencher, Mesa State
OF: Nate Baumann, Augustana
OF: Nate Swearer, Nebraska-Kearney
P: Pat Lenton, Minnesota St.-Mankato
P: David Deminsky, St. Cloud St.
P: Mario Mattivi, CSU-Pueblo
P: Drew Vassil, New Mexico Highlands
RP: Aaron Guinn, Mesa State
DH: Alex Koch, Wayne State
C: Tony Pechek, CSU-Pueblo
IF: Geno Glynn, Minnesota St.-Mankato