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HIGH SCHOOL-KENTUCKY

TMC's Hetzer named PAC baseball Coach of the Year

The Enquirer
Thomas More baseball coach Jeff Hetzer.

Thomas More head baseball coach Jeff Hetzer was named Presidents' Athletic Conference Coach of the Year this week and nine Saints were named All-PAC by the conference's head coaches.

Hetzer, who is in his 14th season with Thomas More, guided the Saints to the PAC tournament title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III tournament. This year's championship is the third for the Saints (2010 and 2011) since joining the PAC in 2006. The Saints are making their sixth appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament this week and their fourth in the last five years. The Coach of the Year award is Hetzer's second (2011).

Senior first baseman Craig Hyson; senior second baseman/left fielder Jason Handley; senior third baseman Travis Miller, a St. Henry High School graduate; and sophomore pitcher Logan Miller were all named first-team All-PAC. Junior catcher Brad Popham, a Dixie Heights graduate; senior shortstop/second baseman Tyler Graber; senior right fielder Cody Makin; and senior pitcher Andy Roenker, a Holy Cross graduate, were all named to the second team. Sophomore designated hitter Donovan Pogue was named honorable mention All-PAC.

TWO TMC SOFTBALL PLAYERS ALL-REGION: Shortstop Ana Walter and sophomore pitcher/right fielder Mamee Salzer, a St. Henry High School graduate, were named All-Central Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Walter, who was named the Presidents' Athletic Conference Player of the Year and first-team All-PAC last week, was a first-team All-Region selection.

Salzer, a two-time first-team All-PAC selection, was named second-team All-Region. This season, she led the PAC in earned run average (1.61) and was second in victories (17) and opponent batting average (.218), fourth in strikeouts (80) and fifth in innings pitched (113 1/3). At the plate, Salzer batted .315 with two home runs, two triples, four doubles and 26 RBI.

The softball team finished the season 31-12 and won the PAC regular season title while also receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III tournament, where it was eliminated last week.

BASEBALL TOURNAMENT GAME POSTPONED: The Saints' Mideast Regional elimination game against John Carroll University in Marietta, Ohio, was delayed by rain and was not over at press time.