2008 University of the Cumberlands Baseball Wrap-Up

The University of the Cumberlands Patriots baseball team had their season end at the NAIA Region XI Tournament in Lebanon, TN. This was the Patriots third trip to the Region XI Tournament in four years. The Patriots ended the year with an overall record of 43-16, a 17-2 conference record, a Mid-South Conference Regular Season Championship, a Mid-South Conference Tournament Runner-Up, and having participated in the NAIA Region XI Tournament.

The Patriots began the season picked 4 th in Region XI and 2 nd in the Mid-South Conference while receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Top 25. After starting the season 3-2, the Patriots went on to win 15 of their next 16 to improve to 18-3 going into mid-March. That streak included a key NAIA Top 10 victory over Tennessee Wesleyan College. The Patriots then began their conference schedule, losing only 2 of their 19 conference games. Key sweeps of West Virginia Tech, Lindsey Wilson College, and Georgetown College led the Patriots to their 24 conference championship.

The Patriots outscored their opponents in every inning this year and throughout the season by a 434-234 margin. Base running was also a key factor in the success of the Patriots this year, finishing the year with .426 on base percentage. The Patriots also eclipsed last year’s squad for the most stolen bases in a season with 182 successful stolen bases on 212 attempts.

Many individuals were honored for their contributions and accomplishments on the season. The Patriots left fielder Trevor Urbanick ( Conneautville, PA) took home a list of achievements including Mid-South Conference Player of the Year, NAIA Region XI Player of the Year, and NAIA All-American. Urbanick hit .399 on the year with 73 hits, 16 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 32 runs batted in, 18 walks, 25 hit by pitches, and 62 stolen bases on 69 attempts. Pitcher Adam Blakey (Jamestown, KY) took home the MSC Co-Pitcher of the Year. Blakey threw in 13 games this season with an earned run average of 2.84 over 73 innings to go with his 9-3 record on the year. He allowed only 30 runs on the year (23 earned), walked 19 while striking out 60, and had an opponent’s batting average of only .217. Second baseman Andrew Denton (Hendersonville, TN) took home the National Rawlings Gold Glove for the NAIA at the 2 nd base position. Denton started in all 58 games for the Patriots this season, finishing the year with a .983 fielding percentage, only committing 4 errors on the season. He also batted .307 on the year with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 39 runs batted in, 38 walks, 5 hit by pitches, and 27 stolen bases on 28 attempts. He was also awarded a spot on the Rawlings Gold Glove Team representing Region XI. Brandon Williams (Ashland, KY), who was 6-1 on the mound in 14 appearances, recorded two shut outs in 72.1 innings pitched earning him a spot on the Region XI Rawlings Gold Glove Team as well.

The Patriots swept the Mid-South awards with seven 1 st team members and 3 honorable mention members. 1 st team members include Urbanick, Blakey, Denton, Tyler Lee ( Mt. Sterling, KY), Robert Mills ( Las Vegas, NV), Trae Balzano ( Cincinnati, OH), and Dylan Holt ( Lawrenceburg, KY). Those receiving honorable mention for the MSC were Luis Raffan (Miami, FL), Javier Gali-Rodriguez (Corozal, PR) and Brandon Williams. MSC Academic All-Conference Awards were handed out to the student athletes that make a significant contribution to their studies as well as their contributions to the team. These recipients were Jon Silverman (Kettering, OH) who was also named the MSC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, Chris Short (Willwood, MO), and Andrew Denton. NAIA Region XI honors went to players who showed tremendous performance throughout the year in the region. These honors went to Andrew Denton, Robert Mills, Trevor Urbanick, and Brandon Williams.

Head Coach Brad Shelton was also awarded the Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year award for the second time since joining the coaching staff at the University of the Cumberlands. He also won the award in 2004 when his Patriots went 45-11 on the season. Cumberlands Athletic Director Randy Vernon said, “Brad has done an excellent job with our baseball team, not only this year, but from the first day he arrived on campus as our coach. We congratulate him on being named MSC Coach of the Year. It is an honor that he rightfully deserves.”

Patriot baseball continues its winning ways with a total record of 1376-631, with head coach Brad Shelton earning 271 victories after 7 seasons with the Patriots. In the last 5 years, the Patriots have earned three Mid-South Conference Regular Season Championships, a Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship, and four NAIA Region XI Tournament appearances with still the best yet to come.

[2007 Season Wrap-Up] [2006 Season Wrap-Up] [2005 Season Wrap-Up] [2004 Season Wrap-Up]