Koehnlein makes first-team Horizon

Erich Diedrich and Josh Page earned second-team accolades.

CHICAGO — Youngstown State sophomore third baseman John Koehnlein was named First-Team All-Horizon League to highlight seven Penguin players who earned postseason recognition by the league’s coaches.

Junior designated hitter Erich Diedrich and junior utility player Josh Page earned second-team accolades. Lee Bainbridge, Tom Clayton, Ryan Dunlap and Anthony Munoz were named the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team.

The seven honorees are the most ever for YSU, topping five award winners in 2003.

League leader

Koehnlein, a native of Toronto, leads the Horizon League in batting average at .425, and he has been ranked as high as seventh in the nation in hitting this season.

His 97 hits has already shattered YSU’s previous single season record of 80, and his current 25-game hitting streak is the longest in school history. He has had 26 multi-hit games, including a school-record tying five-hit performance against Butler on April 28.

Diedrich (Bay Village) finished among the Horizon League’s top power hitters, ranking third in home runs (six), sixth in slugging (.529) and seventh in RBIs (37). He is 10 RBIs shy of the YSU’s career record for RBIs, and he is five shy of the home runs record. His 19-game hitting streak earlier in the season is also the sixth-longest in school history.

Page (Plain City) has brought his average up to .322 overall and .339 against Horizon League opponents.

Bainbridge (Steubenville) made his first appearance at third base on April 18 and has come on to hit .305 with three home runs, 11 runs scored and 10 RBIs. He and Clayton are two of only three freshmen in the Horizon League to bat above .300 for the season.

Clayton’s average

Clayton (Poland) is batting .303 overall in 45 starts as an outfielder and first baseman this season. His three home runs is tied for third-most on the team with Bainbridge, and his 17 is the most ever by a freshman in YSU history.

Dunlap (Newark) has split time in the outfield and pitcher’s mound this season.

Munoz (Fostoria) is a middle infielder who has started 39 games and appeared in 44.