Baseball Broncos earn MAC honors
May 23, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Three members of the Western Michigan University baseball team were named to 2002 All-Mid-American Conference teams Wednesday (May 22) by the league office.
Senior outfielder Sam Flamont was named to the All-MAC First Team, while juniors Pat Misch and Chad Tarpley were honored as all-conference second team selections. Flamont and Tarpley's all-conference selections are the first for both players. Misch was a 2001 All-MAC Second Team pick.
Flamont turned in a phenomenal senior season, leading the team in batting average (.401), hits (75), RBIs (56), total bases (129), slugging percentage (.690), on-base percentage (.460), and stolen bases (13). In two seasons at Western Michigan, Flamont hit .388 with 21 home runs, 26 stolen bases, and 101 RBI.
"Sam was our offensive player of the year," head coach Fred Decker said. "I thought he had a terrific year. He combined the speed element with power. He was a really good player for us."
A Portage (Mich.) Central graduate, Tarpley led the team with 15 homers and was second in RBIs (51), total bases (113), and slugging percentage (.653). He tied the WMU single-game record with three home runs at Northern Illinois April 20. Tarpley's season homer total was the third best in Western Michigan University baseball history.
"I really feel that Chad had a breakout season," Decker said. "He was our team MVP."
Misch topped the Bronco pitching staff in wins (6), complete games (3), innings pitched (78.1), and strikeouts (95). His 95 whiffs were four shy of the single-season record he set a year ago. Misch also took over the program's career strikeout record in 2002. The lefty has now totaled 222 strikeouts as a Bronco. He fanned 19 Eastern Michigan batters last season to establish WMU's single game standard.
"I really thought that in his last three outings, Pat pitched just tremendously," Decker said. "He's getting close to being one of the greats here and next year could have a chance at our career wins record."
Western Michigan finished the 2002 season12-13 in conference play and 22-25 overall.
Media contact: Geoff Brown, 269 387-4138, geoffrey.brown@wmich.edu