ROYAL OAK, Mich. - Three Trine University baseball players were named All-MIAA as announced by the conference Wednesday, including senior Ryan Smith (Danville, Ind./Danville) being named First Team for the third straight season.
Smith is the only three-time honoree on the list, and one of only
two multiple first team honorees. In all, Smith ranked in the top
10 of the conference in seven offensive categories including sixth
in batting with a .361 average. Smith was third in RBI with 18,
tied for fifth with 41 total bases, tied for sixth in doubles with
six and tied for seventh in hits with 30. In addition, Smith was
fourth with a slugging percentage of .494 and sixth in on base
percentage at .411.
Named to the All-MIAA Second Team were junior catcher Matt Zurbriggen (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) and senior outfielder Josh Rivera (Somonauk, Ill./Somonauk).
Rivera, an All-MIAA Second Team member in 2011 as well, ranked
fifth in the conference with 20 runs scored. Rivera, the only Trine
player to start all 28 conference games, tied for third in the
conference with fellow second team selection Zurbriggen with seven
hit by pitches while hitting .298 in MIAA action.
Zurbriggen has been a mainstay behind the dish for the Thunder,
starting 23 games. Zurbriggen hit .239 in conference action and was
third with nine runners thrown out stealing. Zurbriggen’s
caught stealing percentage of .409 was tops in the conference.