Baseball: Howe receives Coach of the Year

Keene, NH - 5/15/07: Getting into the NCAA Division III baseball tournament for the first time in Keene State history is quite an accomplishment, but receiving Coach of the Year honors in the conference is just icing on the cake for Owls' Head Coach Kenny Howe. Howe, along with five of his star players gaining spots on the all-LEC teams, received notice of the tribute less than 24 hours after he found out that his team was headed to the show.

Five standouts on the KSC team were acknowledged for outstanding seasons as an Owl, including senior pitcher Rick Stromgren and junior second baseman Jamie Chevalier receiving first-team all-LEC honors. Freshman first baseman Beau Darak, junior pitcher Jamie Morin, and junior third baseman Joe Rousseau collected second-team all-LEC honors.

This isn't the first time that Stromgren and Rousseau have been summoned by the conference to hoist this award. They were both voted for second team in the 2006 season.

Stromgren, who went 4-3 with a 3.12 ERA, had a solid season on the hill keeping hitters off balance by placing his pitches, keeping the ball down in the strike zone, and changing speeds. He threw one shutout and was tied with Jamie Morin for most Ks this season with 36.

Chevalier was noticed for his play at second base, not to mention his dominance on the mound closing out games when fire-baller Greg Ford was put on the DL for a couple of games. Chevalier led the team in average (.384), hits (48), and triples (3) of the year. Not only did he fight off pitches and make hurlers work, but he was also the toughest strikeout with six Ks in 34 games.

Darak provided the power and the late-game heroics for the Owls this season. He led the team in doubles (12) and homeruns (5), including a ninth-inning walk-off blast over the right field fence against Southern Maine. Darak's power helped keep this lineup potent.

Rousseau was a quiet assassin all season, leading the team in RBIs (38). His solid glove at third base helped smother would-be hits in any other game. He collected 42 hits throughout the season with one homerun and three doubles.

Morin was solid on the mound this year, whether he was coming out of the bullpen or throwing the first pitch. His versatility helped provide stability in any inning in any game. He went 4-2 with a 3.60 ERA, with a complete game and a shutout. He was tied with Stromgren for most Ks this season, but it was his middle relief efforts that helped the Owls roll.

By: Gregory Antonelli, Sports Information Assistant