FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEVEN PANTHERS EARN ALL-INDEPENDENT BASEBALL HONORS

ORANGE, Calif. – Senior RHP Devin Drag and sophomore Kurt Yacko, who led the Panthers to a fifth place finish at the NCAA Division III World Series, earned top honors on the 2007 All-Independent Baseball team, as selected by the Association of Division III Independents.

Yacko, who moonlighted as third baseman and pitcher for Chapman, was named Independents Player of the Year after he hit .389 with six home runs, 46 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He compiled a 5-1 record with a 1.74 ERA and 10 saves, as well. He ranked among the top-10 nationally in saves, strikeouts (103) and led the team in hits (81), triples (four) and slugging percentage (.591).

For the second consecutive year, Drag was named Independents Pitcher of the Year, posting a 16-0 record and 2.41 ERA. He had already been named West Region Pitcher of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association after leading all Division III pitchers in victories and tying the school’s all-time record for wins.

Chapman head coach Tom Tereschuk was named Independents Coach of the Year for the second straight season, guiding the Panthers to a 41-8 overall record and a third straight West Region title.

Joining Yacko and Drag on the All-Independents first team are: RHP Wayde Kitchens (12-2, 2.35 ERA, school-record 120 strikeouts), infielders Kyle Redding (.341, 10 doubles, 22 RBI) and Ryan Cavan (.394), 6 HR, 42 RBI), and senior OF Tyler Dean (.340, 23 2B, 8 HR, 48 RBI).

Junior DH Stuart Hyman (.352, 3 HR, 34 RBI) was named to the All-Independents second team.

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 25 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in nine sports in 2006-07. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. The Association provides statistical services for its member is seven sports. For more information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at http://www.d3independents.org/.

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