Augsburg's Craig Henry, Sam Weber named Division III "Players to Watch" by Collegiate Baseball newspaper
COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER -- CLICK HERE
MINNEAPOLIS (1/7/09) -- Augsburg College baseball players Craig Henry (JR, Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) and Sam Weber (JR, Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View HS) were among 10 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference players recently listed in the NCAA Division III "Players to Watch" list by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
The list of players to watch was compiled by Division III baseball coaches and included in the Jan. 2 issue of Collegiate Baseball, a newspaper that covers all levels of college baseball. A total of 301 athletes were listed.
Henry has earned All-MIAC honors each of his first two seasons -- one of just two juniors in the MIAC who has earned all-conference honors each of the last two seasons -- developing a reputation as one of the top catchers in the conference. It's the second year in a row that Henry has been named to the Collegiate Baseball Players to Watch list.
In 2008, Henry hit .327 (35-of-107), with 27 runs scored, six doubles, three triples, 12 RBI, a .439 sluggging percentage and a .410 on-base percentage. He compiled a .980 fielding percentage, with just four errors in 205 defensive chances. He threw out 15 runners trying to steal in 36 stolen-base attempts, tops among MIAC catchers in overall statistics. In conference games-only, Henry hit .385 (25-of-65) with 15 runs scored and eight RBI. His nine baserunners thrown out in 18 stolen-base attempts was also tops among MIAC catchers in conference-only statistics.
In his two seasons at Augsburg (70 games, 69 starts), Henry is hitting .362 (80-of-221) with 52 runs scored, 21 doubles, five triples, two home runs, a .529 slugging percentage and .427 on-base percentage.
Weber finished 4-3 in nine starts in 2008, pitching a team-high 47.2 innings, including two complete games, with a 3.97 earned-run average. He had a team-best 53 strikeouts against just 27 walks, the fifth-most strikeouts among MIAC players in overall statistics. Opponents hit .289 off of Weber in 2008. In league play, Weber was 3-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 28.1 innings (five starts), with 26 strikeouts against 15 walks.
In his two seasons at Augsburg (17 appearances, 15 starts, three complete games), Weber has a 7-4 record with a 4.22 ERA, with 84 career strikeouts agianst just 38 walks and a .281 opponent batting average.
Under head coach Keith Bateman, Augsburg finished 16-20 overall and 8-12 in MIAC play in 2008. Bateman's teams have recorded 16 or more victories in each of his five previous seasons at Augsburg.
Augsburg opens its 2009 season on Feb. 28 with a 10 p.m. doubleheader against Edgewood (Wis.) at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.
MIAC players named to the NCAA Division III Players to Watch list by Collegiate Baseball:
Augsburg -- Craig Henry, catcher; Sam Weber, right-handed pitcher.
Bethel -- Ben Turnwall, right-handed pitcher.
Carleton -- Ethan Guevin, right-handed pitcher; Jay Melson, third baseman.
Hamline -- Dan Kaczrowski, shortstop.
St. Thomas -- Dan Leslie, third baseman; Matt Schuld, right-handed pitcher.
St. Olaf -- Nick Fuerst, third baseman; Todd Mathison, right-handed pitcher.
