May 13, 2005

BAY CITY, Mich. - Wayne State University senior shortstop Frank Jeney (Windsor, Ont.) was selected as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (GLIAC) baseball Player of the Year, while the "Rodger George Coach of the Year Award" went to Wayne State's Jay Alexander. Grand Valley State University junior pitcher Grant Payton was the Pitcher of the Year and Northwood first baseman Matt Shields was named Freshman of the Year. All four awards were selected by the GLIAC baseball coaches in conjunction with all-conference balloting.

Jeney set numerous school hitting records this year, including hits in a season (74) and career (212). He holds the Wayne State all-time mark for extra-base hits (66), and single-season mark for total bases (117). The shortstop led the GLIAC with a .424 batting average this season, had a team-high 22 multi-hit games along with 13 multiple-RBI games, and started the season on a 13-game hitting streak. Jeney had a season-high four hits and three runs scored against Plymouth State, while he totalled a career-best five RBI, including a three-run home run in the seventh inning at Northwood last Sunday. Defensively, he was a part of 31 of Wayne State's GLIAC-high 44 double plays turned. Jeney is the first WSU player to be selected GLIAC player of the year since John Miele in 1999.

After being selected fourth in the preseason coaches' poll, Alexander led his alma mater to the No. 1 seed and earned the right to host the Conference's postseason tournament with a 19-8 league mark. The Warriors' 32 overall wins ties the school record established in 1999. Since taking over in 2003, Alexander has compiled a

Jay Alexander was named Coach of the Year

78-70 overall record and defeated three Division I teams including Michigan State, Toledo and Eastern Michigan this season. He becomes the second recipient of the "Rodger George Coach of the Year Award," named after former Wayne State head coach Rodger George who passed away in 2003 year after 14 years at the Warrior helm.

Joining Jeney on the GLIAC First Team were co-captain Bobby Marten (Allen Park, Mich.) and sophomore Kyle Hill (Mississauga, Ont.). Marten, a three-time first team selection, was the coaches' infielder choice while Hill got the most votes as a starting pitcher. Like Jeney, Marten has set school records in his senior season in games played and at-bats, while Hill was second in the GLIAC in wins (9) and innings pitched (72.2).

All five infield positions earned all-conference accolades as redshirt freshman Matt Cunningham (Gregory, Mich.) was Second Team All-GLIAC at the catcher's position, junior Jason Chapieski (Windsor, Ont.) was selected the second team infielder and first baseman Jon Weisman (Woodhaven, Mich.) picked up honorable mention. Cunningham batted .303 in the regular season and had a .972 fielding percentage behind the plate. Chapieski, a transfer from Detroit Mercy, recorded just three errors at second base all season and hit .329 with 30 stolen bases in the lead-off spot. Weisman led the Warriors in home runs with nine and had a .323 batting average.

Besides Hill, two more WSU pitchers were honored by the league as freshman Ryan Mosher (Ann Arbor, Mich.) was a second team pick and sophomore Dan Barnes (Grand Ledge, Mich.) earned honorable mention status. With Saturday's win, Mosher has an 8-3 record with six complete games and an ERA of 3.63. Barnes was 4-2 as the No. 3 starter and threw a complete-game five-hitter against SVSU.

For the complete all-conference release, please visit the GLIAC Baseball Site.