Four Baseball Players Named To All-Region Team

MADISON, N.J. - Four Landmark Conference baseball players were honored with selections to the 2009 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Region Teams. All four performers earned first-team honors, two from the Mid-Atlantic Region and two from the New York Region.

The University of Scranton first baseman Chris Bligh and Susquehanna University outfielder Tyler Reichard were both named to the first-team from the Mid-Atlantic Region, while United States Merchant Marine Academy senior outfielder David May and junior designated hitter Mike Bybee were first-team honorees from the New York Region. The ABCA team is voted on by members of the ABCA.

Bligh, a second-team all-region pick a year ago, had another productive season for the Royals this past spring, batting .395, with 14 doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 40 RBI. He led Scranton in on-base percentage (.510) and walks (30) and was second in slugging percentage (.647), total bases (77), runs scored (40), and total plate appearances (151). He hit safely in 26 games and had 14 multi-hit games. He was a second-team all-Landmark Conference selection this past season.

Reichard batted .392 with seven homeruns this year. He also scored 42 runs to tie Lunardi for the team lead. His 56 hits, 26 walks, 90 total bases and 12 stolen bases (on 12 attempts) led the Crusaders. He ranked in the top 10 in the Landmark in 2009 in homers, runs, hits, walks, total bases, stolen bases, triples (two), on-base percentage (.494) and slugging percentage (.629).

May broke six school records for the 2009 season, homeruns in a season (13), career homeruns (19), RBI in a season (57), games played (36), hits in a season (64) and runs in a season (43). He finished the year with a batting average of .464, 16 stolen bases, four doubles and four triples. He also had a slugging percentage of .833 with an on base percentage of .522. May was named Landmark Conference Player of the Week twice during the season.

Bybee was able to break two different school records on the season. He holds the record for career RBI with 113 and broke the runs record with 43. Bybee finished the 2009 season with a batting average of .418, 61 hits, 14 doubles, and 53 RBI. He also added a .678 slugging percentage and a .463 on base percentage along with four stolen bases.

Story provided by Scranton, Susquehanna & USMMA Sports Information