MIAA Champion Mules place 12 on All-Conference squad

(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) -- The Central Missouri State University Mules placed a dozen players on the All-MIAA Baseball Team, including eight on the first team.

The Mules also had the Pitcher of the Year (junior righthander Steve Sharpe), the Player of the Year (junior centerfielder Francisco Leandro), the Freshman of the Year (righthander Mike Phelps), and the Wilson Coach of the Year (first-year mentor Darin Hendrickson).

Hendrickson, who came to the Mules this season from St. Louis Community College-Forest Park, blended a solid core of returnees with some key acquisitions. His first CMSU baseball team went 48-6 (a school record for wins in the regular season), 26-5 in the MIAA. The Mules won the conference title by seven games.

Sharpe, who sat out last year as a transfer and had to watch the Mules win the national championship, proved to be a force in the MIAA. He is 11-0 with a 2.44 earned run averag eand 84 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings pitched. Opponents are batting just .204 against the righthander who leads the league in wins, ERA, opponents batting average, and innings pitched.

A native of Miami, Fla., Leandro transferred to Central Missouri this year from Western Nebraska Community College. He is one home run away from becoming only the third player in the Mules’ storied baseball history to hit 15 home runs and steal 15 bases in a single-season. For the year, the Mules centerfielder is batting .356 with 14 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 64 runs batted in, and 23 stolen bases.

Phelps redshirted last year after coming to the Mules from Hazelwood, Mo. He has worked as a starter and reliever this season, and is 6-0 with two saves and a team-leading 1.66 earned run average. Phelps has struck out 62 in 48.2 innings of work and is holding his foes to a .188 batting average.

Also named first-team All-MIAA for the Mules were senior lefthander Steve McReynolds (8-0, 1.89 ERA, 62 Ks in 62 1/3 innings), senior first baseman Joe Strada (.321, 11 2B, 5 3B, 8 HR, 54 RBI, 12 stolen bases), senior second baseman Eric Errante (.376, 21 2B, 8 HR, 53 RBI, 18 SB), senior shortstop Andy Mayfield (.340, 8 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 9 sacrifices), junior leftfielder Will Bradley (.405, 9 2B, 11 3B, 5 HR, 46 RBI, 19 SB), and senior designated hitter Joe Gullion (.360, 15 2B, 8 HR, 53 RBI).

Junior catcher Tommy Bryant (.370, 8 HR, 39 RBI) and senior rightfielder Steve Downey (.365, 14 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 31 SB) were second team honorees, while Phelps and sophomore righthanded closer Nick Webber (2-2, 18 appearances, 7 saves, 2.03 ERA) were honorable mention selections.

The Mules host the MIAA Tournament this Friday-Sunday, May 7-9 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. It is the fifth consecutive title for the Mules, their 10^th in the last 11 seasons.

Mules First-Team Selections

Pitchers - Senior righthander Steve Sharpe (Stillwell, Kan.) & Senior lefthander Steve McReynolds (Odessa, Mo.)First Base - Senior Joe Strada (Gladstone, Mo.)

Second Base - Senior Eric Errante (St. Louis, Mo.)

Shortstop - Senior Andy Mayfield (Blue Springs, Mo.)

Outfield - Junior Francisco Leandro (Miami, Fla.) and Junior Will Bradley (Monash, Australia)

Designated Hitter - Senior Joe Gullion (Leawood, Kan.)

Mules Second-Team Selections

Catcher - Junior Tommy Bryant (Lenexa, Kan.)

Outfield - Senior Steve Downey (Topeka, Kan.)

Mules Honorable Mention Selections

Pitcher - Freshman righthander Mike Phelps (Hazelwood, Mo.)

Relief Pitcher - Sophomore righthander Nick Webber (Lee’s Summit, Mo.)