Warrensburg, Mo. (Oct. 2, 2000) -- The 2000 college baseball season has been over since May 31, but Central Missouri State University is receiving an additional honor. Senior second baseman Chris Curry has been selected as the NCAA Division II Defensive Player of the Year. Easton Sports sponsored the selections, which were announced in the latest issue of Collegiate Baseball and included one player in each of the three NCAA divisions, plus a high school, junior college and NAIA player.

Curry, who was a first-team All-America selection by the America Baseball Coaches Association last spring, had a superb 2000 season for the Mules, who were 50-13. Defensively, he committed just two errors in 268 chances at second base, had 160 assists and produced a .993 fielding percentage.

At the plate, he led the Mules with a .445 batting average and also paced the team in hits with 94. A four-year starter for the Mules, Curry came to Central Missouri from Hemet, Calif.

"Obviously, this is an outstanding honor for Chris and definitely well-deserved," said Mules' head coach Brad Hill. "He did everything that was asked of him in his four-year career here. When it came time for him to step up and take a leadership role as a senior for us, he certainly did and enjoyed a tremendous season."

The Mules claimed the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title, won the NCAA Central Regional crown and tied for fifth at the Division II Championships in Montgomery, Ala., last spring. Their 50 wins were the second most in school history, second only to the 51 games won by the 1994 national championship team.