Senior catcher Ryan Duncheon, the Redbirds all-time home run leader, and hard-hitting junior outfielder Jared Dufault represented Illinois State University as First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference baseball selections.
Duncheon, a Petersburg native who concluded his career with 58 home runs, slugged 13 as a senior and drove in 52 runs while leading the Redbirds with a .363 average. Duncheon also is the Redbirds career leader in doubles (59) runs batted in (210), total bases (474) and on-base percentage (.474). He was one of only three repeat selections from 1999 on the all-Valley first team.
Dufault was the Redbirds No. 2 hitter with a .351 average. The fleet-footed outfielder from Rockford (Guilford) had just one error in 112 fielding chanaces for the season.Lefthanded pitcher Brian Forystek and switch-hitting third baseman Seth Von Behren, both seniors were second-team all-Valley selections for the Redbirds, who finished the season 27-28.
Forystek was 7-3 with 97 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings, finishing his career as one of five pitchers in Redbird history with 20 or more wins. The Palos Park (Sandburg) natives 288 career strikeouts are No. 3 in Redbird history.
Von Behren finished his career tied for first in career doubles at Illinois State (58) and No. 2 both in career hits (262) and runs scored (184). This year, the Vandalia native hit .330 with 18 doubles, 48 runs batted in and a team-high 16 steals.
Outfielder Ed Tolzien and pitcher Neal Cotts received honorable mention. Tolzien, a junior from Arlington Heights, led Illinois State with 57 runs batted in and stole 10 bases. Cotts, a sophomore from Lebanon, topped the Birds in innings pitched (97) and earned run average (3.25).
Wichita State second baseman Blake Blasi was the leagues Player of the Year while Evansvilles Ryan Miller was Pitcher of the Year. Indiana State claimed both the Newcomer of the Year (shortstop Clint Barmes) and Freshman of the Year (pitcher Mitch Stetter).
