Northwestern University Athletics
Three Wildcats Earn All-Big Ten Honors
5/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 20, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern was represented by three individuals when the 2008 All-Big Ten Baseball Teams were announced Monday. Sophomore first baseman Jake Goebbert and freshman starting pitcher Eric Jokisch were named to the second team, while senior outfielder Mike Kalina was a third-team selection. In addition, Jokisch was honored as the conference's Freshman of the Year.
A native of Virginia, Ill., Jokisch is the second Wildcat player to be named the top freshman since the award was created in 1988, joining Jeremy Kurella who earned the honor in 1998. The left-hander paced NU with an 8-2 record, a 4.17 ERA, 73.1 innings pitched and four complete games this season. Included in his season record was a 7-1 mark in conference play, with the seven wins being the most ever by a true freshman in Big Ten history. The league victory total matches Dan Brauer's team mark set in 2006. Perhaps Jokisch's finest effort of the season came in his final start of the year when he hurled a shutout in the Wildcats' 2-0 win at 17th-ranked and Big Ten regular season champion Michigan.
Goebbert, a Hampshire, Ill., native, served as Northwestern's primary run producer this season. He ranked second on the team with a .353 batting average and was first with 10 home runs, 22 doubles, 48 runs batted in, a .665 slugging percentage and a .458 on-base percentage. His 22 doubles led the Big Ten during the regular season and broke a 31-year-old school season record (Kent McGuire - 21, 1977). Goebbert collected four hits and drove in six runs in a game twice this season, against Kansas March 23 and again six days later at Purdue March 29. He was also recognized as the team's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
A Munster, Ind., native, Kalina was Northwestern's leader in batting average this year. His mark of .384 ranks 10th in the Big Ten through the completion of the regular season. In 41 games played, Kalina totaled a team-leading 19 multiple-hit contests. He got off to a scorching start to the season, collecting multiple hits in each of the team's first eight games en route to a .583 average (21-36). His on-base percentage of .439 ranked second only to Goebbert on the team. Kalina also contributed in the field, leading the squad with five outfield assists from his left field position.
A complete listing of the 2008 All-Big Ten Baseball Teams follows.
FIRST TEAM
1B - Nate Recknagel, MICH#
2B - Ben Wolgamot, PUR
SS - Jason Christian, MICH
3B - Nate Hanson, MINN
OF - Kyle Hudson, ILL#
OF - Andrew Means, IND
OF - Matt Nohelty, MINN
C - Josh Phegley, IND#
DH - Zach Putnam, MICH
SP - Matt Bashore, IND
SP - Chris Fetter, MICH
SP - Zach Putnam, MICH#
SP - Matt Bischoff, PUR
RP - Drew O'Neil, PSU
# - Denotes unanimous selection
SECOND TEAM
1B - Jake Goebbert, NU
2B - Joe Bonadonna, ILL
SS - Brandon Wikoff, ILL
3B - Kevin Hoef, IOWA
OF - Caleb Curry, IOWA
OF - Kevin Cislo, MICH
OF - Brandon Haveman, PUR
C - Jeff DeSmidt, MINN
DH - Daniel Webb, ILL
SP - Eric Jokisch, NU
SP - Jake Hale, OSU
SP - Dean Wolosiansky, OSU
SP - Mike Wanamaker, PSU
RP - Josh Lindblom, PUR
THIRD TEAM
1B - Ryne White, PUR
2B - Leif Mahler, MICH
SS - Justin Toole, IOWA
3B - Adam Abraham, MICH
OF - Chris Roberts, MSU
OF - Mike Kalina, NU
OF - J.B. Shuck, OSU
C - Joe Blackburn, PSU
DH - Rob Yodice, PSU
SP - Kevin Manson, ILL
SP - Mark Sorensen, MSU
SP - J.B. Shuck, OSU
SP - Matt Jansen, PUR
RP - Michael Powers, MICH
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Nate Recknagel, MICH
PITCHER OF THE YEAR - Zach Putnam, MICH
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - Eric Jokisch, NU
COACH OF THE YEAR - Rich Maloney, MICH
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Kyle Hudson, Illinois
Andrew Means, Indiana
Caleb Curry, Iowa
Leif Mahler, Michigan
Mark Sorensen, Michigan State
Tom Steidl, Minnesota
Jake Goebbert, Northwestern
Dan DeLucia, Ohio State
Brian Ernst, Penn State
Ryne White, Purdue
