Three Vikings are all-HAAC

(Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Three members of the Missouri Valley College baseball team received all-Heart of America Conference honors for the 2009 season.

Senior right-hander Joaquin Lopez of Eugene, Ore., was the only pitcher selected, placed on the second team. He was 5-6 with a 4.55 earned-run average, throwing two shutouts, and led the Vikings with 65.1 innings pitched and 47 strikeouts.

Also on the second team was sophomore George Ban (above), a center fielder from El Grove, Calif. He topped Valley with a .349 batting average and .603 slugging percentage -- due to a team-high 16 doubles, three triples and five home runs -- and 32 runs batted in.

Junior first baseman Jay Walkup of Tacoma, Wash., was an honorable mention pick after batting .348 with three homers, 31 RBIs and a team-best 29 runs scored.

Culver-Stockton second baseman Steve Rinaudo was named the league's "player of the year," with Lindenwood's Kyle Boschert voted the top pitcher and William Jewell field boss Mike Stockton chosen as the "coach of the year."

The Vikings posted a 16-32 overall record, 15-23 in HAAC play for ninth in the standings during their first year under head coach Chris Shotwell.