(Mankato, MN) – The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League, is proud to announce that four members of the 2008 MoonDogs roster have been honored with preseason awards and accolades. Among those being honored are outfielders: Cory Harrilchak (Elon), Michael Rockett (Texas-San Antonio), and Justin Milo (Vermont) and pitcher Zach Calhoon (Texas-San Antonio).
Harrilchak, a senior at Elon University (North Carolina), has been named a 2009 Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-American, as well as a top 10 returning senior for the upcoming season. Harrilchak was a 2008 Northwoods League All-Star and led the MoonDogs in triples while hitting .283. He also starred on the mound going 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Harrilchak has also been named to the 2009 Second Team National Preseason Outfield by All-Pingbaseball.com and to the 2009 Preseason Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List. The Wallace award is presented annually to the nation’s top college baseball player of the year
Former MoonDogs and current University of Texas-San Antonio teammates Zach Calhoon and Michael Rockett have been selected as Third Team All-Americans and First Team Southland Conference players. Calhoon, a junior at UTSA was 3-1 during the 2008 MoonDogs season, with a 4.18 ERA. He accumulated three saves and racked up 48 strikeouts in only 32 innings.
Rockett hit .286 and led the team in at-bats and hits. He was also selected to the 2008 NWL All-Star game and was the winner of the All-Star Home Run Derby. Rockett has also been named to the 2009 Preseason Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List and he was named as a first team 2009 National Preseason Outfield selection by All-Pingbaseball.com.
Milo, a junior at Vermont University, has been selected to the 2009 preseason Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List as well as the 2009 National Preseason All-Pingbaseball.com Third Team. The Edina, Minnesota native played briefly for the MoonDogs in 2008, hitting .303 with 7 RBI in just 10 games.
The MoonDogs home opener is May 29, 2009 against the Rochester Honkers. MoonDogs season tickets are now on sale at the MoonDogs baseball office located at 310 Belle Avenue. For more information and the full 2009 schedule visit the MoonDogs website at www.mankatomoondogs.com or call the MoonDogs Office at 507-625-7047.
