DC’s Vance earns All-HCAC honors, six named honorable-mention

DEFIANCE, Ohio—Defiance College first-baseman Jeremy Vance has been named to the All-Heartland Conference second team following a breakout 2005 season.

test change The junior from Metamore, Ohio (Evergreen) hit .319 on the season with a .308 average in conference games. Vance led the Jackets and ranked 10th in the HCAC with 19 RBI on the year. His 35 total bases also led the Jackets and earned him a team-high slugging percentage of .486.

In the field Vance was just as impressive as the 6-1, 210-pounder had just two errors in 158 chances at first base, recording 144 put outs and 12 assists, turning 10 double plays.

Making the All-HCAC honorable-mention squad were junior second-baseman Eric Tipton, freshman third-baseman Jeremey Fruhwirth, junior pitcher Tyler Stork, freshman pitcher Derek Hanson, junior pitcher Russ Lupica, and junior centerfielder James Yenser.

Tipton (Paulding, Ohio- Paulding) hit .247 with a double and triple on the season. The junior fielded at a .965 clip at second base, recording 61 assists and 50 put-outs.

Fruhwirth (Beavercreek, Ohio- Beavercreek) led the Jackets in hitting with a .322 average. Five of his hits were for extra bases, while driving in seven runs in the 2005 campaign.

Stork (Paulding, Ohio- Paulding) was the Jackets ace, pitching 53.0 innings and striking out 32 batters, while maintaining a 4.08 ERA. The junior ended the year with a 5-5 record.

Hanson (Wauseon, Ohio- Wauseon) broke onto the Heartland Conference scene in a big way in his freshman campaign. The Wauseon product struck out 51 batters in 52.2 innings-pitched, ranking seventh in the HCAC in Ks. He had a 4.10 ERA and allowed just nine extra-base hits.

Lupica (Marion, Ohio- Napoleon HS, Mich.) had another solid year as the Jackets’ Friday starter. The Marion, Ohio native had a 4.38 ERA and struck out 34 batters in his team-high 63.2 innings-pitched.

James Yenser (Defiance, Ohio- Ayersville) continued his outstanding DC career by posting a .257 batting average with three doubles and a triple. The Ayersville graduate tracked down many would-be doubles in the outfield, recording 81 put-outs and 14 assists, while appearing in seven games on the mound, striking out 16 batters.

The Jackets ended the 2005 season with a 10-23 record overall and a 7-12 mark in the HCAC.