INDIANS RECEIVE TOP HONORS

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team fell short of winning the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship this year.

But the runner-up Indians did earn a nice consolation price -- capturing the two major postseason player awards handed out by the OVC.

At the conference's honors banquet Tuesday night in Paducah, Ky., on the eve of the league tournament, Clemente Bonilla was named OVC Player of the Year and Todd Pennington was named OVC Pitcher of the Year.

Bonilla leads the Indians and ranks second in the OVC with a .388 batting average. He is also among the league's top 10 in doubles (19) and runs scored (49).

A junior second baseman from Mission Viejo, Calif., Bonilla has drawn a school-record 57 walks, which is just one shy of the OVC season record, and he has a school-record 149 career walks.

Bonilla, who has six home runs and 34 runs batted in this season, becomes the third player from Southeast to earn OVC Player of the Year accolades, joining Rex Crosnoe (1995) and Jeremy Johnson (2000).

Pennington has turned in one of the best seasons in OVC history with a 12-1 record -- setting a school mark for victories -- and a 0.81 earned-run average that is the lowest in the nation.

The junior right-hander from Shawnee (Ill.) High School has allowed just 42 hits in 89 innings and ranks among Division I leaders with 114 strikeouts.

Pennington, who has allowed just one earned run in his last 34 innings, is the third Indian to earn OVC Pitcher of the Year honors, joining David Michel (1995) and Ryan Spille (1998).

"Clemente and Todd have accomplished some amazing things this season," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "They are truly two of the most dedicated players I've had a chance to coach and these awards are a wonderful reward."

Said Bonilla of his award, "I was so surprised and thrilled at the same time. I know I've had a solid year, but I thought there were a lot of people deserving."

"I always knew I could pitch this well," said Pennington. "I feel by winning this award, I've proved to myself and everyone else that I belong as this level."

Southeast had a league-high four players selected to the All-OVC first team. Joining Bonilla and Pennington were senior catcher Jeff Bourbon and sophomore shortstop Zach Borowiak.

Bourbon, a four-year standout, is batting .292 with six homers, 16 doubles and a team-high 53 RBIs. Borowiak is hitting .322 with 17 doubles, three homers and 34 RBIs.

Four Indians earned honorable-mention honors: junior outfielder Vern Hatton (.298, 7 HR, 34 RBIs), freshman designated hitter Brad Beatty (.365, 4 HR, 31 RBIs), senior pitcher Jeffrey Hilz (5-3, 3.33 ERA) and junior pitcher Greg Lunski (4-2, 4.05 ERA).

Beatty failed to make either of the top two squads despite being the OVC's fourth-leading hitter.

Jim Schmitz of regular-season champion Eastern Illinois was named OVC Coach of the Year for the third time in the past four seasons.

Eastern Illinois junior first baseman/outfielder Ben Duke was picked as OVC Rookie of the Year. He led the Panthers in hitting (.358) and home runs (9).

The entire list of All-OVC selections can be found in Scoreboard on 2B.

OVC AWARDS

*Player of the Year

Clemente Bonilla, Southeast Missouri

*Pitcher of the Year

Todd Pennington, Southeast Missouri

*Coach of the Year

Jim Schmitz, Eastern Illinois

*Rookie of the Year

Ben Duke, Eastern Illinois