COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER

MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg College baseball players Donald Blunt (JR, Richfield, Minn.), Craig Henry (SR, Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) and Joe Pierce (SR, Eden Prairie, Minn.) were among 20 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. 8 issue of Collegiate Baseball, a newspaper that covers all levels of college baseball.

It's the third year in a row that Henry has earned a spot on the "Players to Watch" list. A three-time All-MIAC selection -- one of only two incoming seniors in the MIAC to earn All-MIAC honors each of their first three seasons -- Henry is considered one of the top catchers in the conference.

In 2009, Henry hit .395 (47-of-119) with 34 runs scored, 13 doubles, three triples, two home runs and a team-best 34 RBI. He had a .605 slugging percentage and .450 on-base percentage. Defensively, Henry had a .974 fielding percentage, with just six errors in 227 defensive chances. Henry threw out 18 runners attempting to steal bases in 47 attempts -- tops among MIAC catchers in overall statistics.

In his career (106 games, 105 starts), Henry has a .374 career batting average, with 86 runs scored, 34 doubles, eight triples, four home runs, 63 RBI, a .556 slugging percentage and .436 on-base percentage. He has a .972 fielding percentage (17 errors in 609 defensive chances), and has thrown out 45 runners attempting to steal in 126 attempts.

Also an All-MIAC selection in 2009, Pierce was at or near the top for the Auggies in most hitting categories, with a .team-best 410 batting average (48-of-117), to go along with a team-best 15 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 29 runs scored, 33 RBI, a .607 slugging percentage and .489 on-base percentage. Defensively, he had a .983 fielding percentage, with just four errors in 240 chances in his first season as a starting first-baseman.

An All-MIAC honorable-mention selection in 2009, Blunt continued his solid play as Augsburg's starting shortstop, hitting .364 (43-for-118) with a team-best 19 extra-base hits (nine doubles and team-highs of five triples and five home runs). He had 30 runs scored, 23 RBI, a team-best .653 slugging percenage and a .432 on-base percentage. His 11 stolen bases in 13 attempts led the team. His five triples were most in the MIAC in overall statistics, and his .653 slugging percentage and five homers were both fifth-best.

In two seasons (65 games, 63 starts), Blunt has a .313 career batting average, with 39 runs scored, 11 doubles, six triples, six home runs, 35 RBI, a .526 slugging percentage, .373 on-base percentage and 14 stolen bases in 16 attempts.

Under head coach Keith Bateman, Augsburg finished the 2008 season 20-18 overall, 11-9 in MIAC play. Bateman's teams have recorded 16 or more victories in each of his six previous seasons at Augsburg.

The Auggies open their 2010 campaign on March 4 at 10 p.m., facing Bethany Lutheran at the Metrodome.