May 18, 2010

2010 Baseball All-MEAC Teams

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Senior center fielder Phil Vaughn (Clinton, Md.) and junior designated hitter Bryan Chaikowsky (Bethlehem, Pa.) were named All-MEAC Second Team selections, the league announced Tuesday.

Bethune-Cookman secured six first-team honors with B-CU catcher Peter O'Brien and head coach Mervyl Melendez earning MEAC Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, in voting by conference head coaches and sports information directors.

Vaughn leads the MEAC in steals (28) and is fifth in walks (26) and sixth in on-base percentage (.439). He is tops on the Hawks in seven offensive categories, including batting average (.339), hits (57), runs scored (31).

Chaikowsky, who was also named a Preseason All-MEAC Honorable Mention, hit .296 in the regular season, leading UMES with 10 doubles and tied for the team lead with three home runs. He was second on the team in hits (47) and slugging percentage (.440). Chaikowsky also had 20 walks and 70 total bases, good for second on the team. North Carolina A&T's Esterlin Paulino and Kelvin Freeman were tabbed as the conference's Pitcher and Rookie of the Year.

Vaughn and Chaikowsky are joined on the second team by pitchers Nick Rogers (NCAT) and Gabriel Hernandez (B-CU), relief pitcher Ryan Shook (Norfolk State), catcher Tony Gatto (Delaware State), infielders Harry Williams (Coppin State), Marquis Riley (NCAT) Abe Eubank (DSU) and Juan Perez (B-CU). Justin Hoyte and Matt Wright round out the second team.

UMES (8-41) earned the sixth seed for the MEAC Tournament and opens play against No. 1 Bethune-Cookman (32-20) Thursday at 2 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla.