Courtesy: ORU Media Relations Ben Petralli was named The Summit League Newcomer of the Year on Tuesday.
ELMHURST, Ill. -- Regular-season baseball champion Oral Roberts University swept the major awards in The Summit League on Wednesday, as Brian Van Kirk was named Player of the Year, Carlos Luna was named Pitcher of the Year, Ben Petralli was selected as Newcomer of the Year and Rob Walton was named Coach of the Year in a vote of the league’s eight head coaches.
After guiding the Golden Eagles to their 11th-consecutive league regular season title, Rob Walton captures his third coach of the year in just his fifth season at the helm. Walton led ORU to their 11th straight 40-win season with 42 wins so far in the 2008 season.
His team led The Summit League in all the major statistical categories including batting average (.328), hits (625), runs (466), ERA (4.19) and strikeouts (435). Walton recorded his 200th career victory in a 11-3 victory over Western Illinois on April 19.
Van Kirk led the league in batting average (.411), hits (86), RBI (66), total bases (151), on-base percentage (.502) and slugging percentage (.722). The outfielder also tied for the league-lead in home runs with 15 and doubles with 20. He finished second in the league in walks with 39 and also scored 52 runs on the year. The Southwest Ranches, Fla. native was a two-time Summit League Player of the Week and helped ORU defeat five ranked opponents on the season.
Luna helped guide ORU to the league title by going 7-0 in league play and a perfect 12-0 on the year, which ranks No. 1 in the nation. His 12 wins, 92 strikeouts, 28 appearances and .230 opponent batting average are tops in The Summit League, as well. The April 28 Pitcher of the Week, Luna also has two saves, one shutout in 84.1 innings on the mound and a 2.88 ERA.
Petralli posted a .352 batting average on the year, while finishing first in the league with 45 walks and 20 doubles. He finished second in RBI (61) and on-base percentage (.472) and third in runs (53), while serving as battery mate for the 43-12 Golden Eagle squad.
Van Kirk, Luna, Petralli, along with five more players was named to the first team while four Golden Eagles earned second-team honors.
Courtesy: ORU Media Relations
