Polcyn, Van Abel Gain All-Region Status

UW-Oshkosh second baseman Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) and shortstop Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) were selected to the 50-member NCAA Division III All-Midwest Region baseball team by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

This was the first regional citation for both UW-Oshkosh players. Van Abel was named to the second team, while Polcyn made the third.

Van Abel led the Titans this past season with five home runs, 38 runs scored and 29 runs batted in. He totaled 18 walks and just 10 strikeouts in 133 at-bats. Starting all 38 games, Van Abel hit .346 with five doubles and one triple.

Van Abel got hot during April, batting 12-for-20 (.600) during a six-game stretch. He compiled three hits, three runs batted in and two runs scored during contests against both Hamline University (Minn.) and UW-Stevens Point (April 25). For the season, Van Abel had 14 multi-hit games.

Polcyn, who also started 38 games, topped UW-Oshkosh with 55 hits, four triples and a .355 batting average. He also compiled 11 doubles, 23 runs scored and 24 RBI. Polcyn finished the season with a 15-game hitting streak.

The University of St. Thomas (Minn.) owned all three award winners with Position Player of the Year Dylan Thomas, Pitcher of the Year Steve Maher and Coach of the Year Chris Olean. The Tommies' Bryce Gapinski also made the first team.

First-team choices from the WIAC included Dylan Friend, Jared Fon and Mary Herum of UW-Whitewater, Justin Jirschele and Ryan Schilter of UW-Stevens Point and Jay Fanta of UW-La Crosse.

Other members of the first team were Jimmy Dercks of Rockford College (Ill.), Anthony Even of Concordia University-Chicago (Ill.), Kyle Flagstad of The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.), Drew Gay of Aurora University (Ill.), Joe Long of Saint John's University (Minn.) and Matt Rowley of Bethel University (Minn.).