ASHEVILLE, N.C.- For the fifth-straight season, VMI has had multiple baseball players honored as All-Conference selections, as A.J. Yoder was named to the Big South Conference's First Team at second base, while Travis Smink earned Second Team accolades as a starting pitcher.  In addition, sophomore hurler Adam Kruithof was named to the League's All-Academic Team.

“I'm extremely proud of the hard work that A.J. has put in in his four years to become one of the best in the league,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry.  “Travis has been a great college pitcher for VMI and I am proud that he has been recognized as one of the best pitchers in this conference.  This is a great honor for Adam, as he is recognized for his hard work both on the field and in the classroom.”

Yoder (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley) earned First Team honors at second base in a season during which he hit .409 in conference play and became VMI's single-season hits leader, collecting 79 to this point in his senior campaign.  Yoder has started each game this season at second base for the Keydets, and entered the Big South Championship ranking second in the League in hits, fifth in batting average and ninth in runs in conference play.  He collected three five-hit games against Big South opponents this season and earlier reached base safely in 21 straight contests.  In his standout career, Yoder now ranks third in career hits with 220 and among the school's top 10 in triples, runs, total bases and doubles.

While it marks the first All-Conference selection of Yoder's career, it makes for the second-straight season that VMI has had a second baseman named to the First Team after Shane Geisslinger was so honored last year.  VMI has now also had a Big South First Team selection in the infield for five-consecutive seasons.

Smink (Dalmatia, Pa./Line Mountain) was named to the League's Second Team for a season that has seen him go 8-4, including a win over Gardner-Webb in an Opening Round game of the 2009 Royal Purple Big South Conference Baseball Championship.  The lanky left-hander is now 7-1 in 10 starts against conference opponents this season and ranked among the League's top five in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts in Big South play.  He allowed just two earned runs or less in seven of his 13 starts this season, including six of his 10 outings in conference.  In his career, Smink ranks second in career wins, fourth in career saves (tied) and in the top 10 in career ERA and opposing batting average in VMI history.

Kruithof (Charlottesville, Va./Western Albemarle) has made 13 relief appearances and four starts this season for the Keydets.  In his first start of the season, no-hit the Richmond Spiders for 5.2 innings, leaving the contest trailing 1-0.  Two weeks later in his first weekend start of the year, he allowed just one run in 4.1 innings versus Liberty, taking a no decision against the Flames.  An Economics & Business major, Kruithof is a multiple-time Dean's List cadet,that is also listed as Distinguished in Academic Merit at VMI.

The Keydets return to action on Thursday at 11 a.m., taking on #2 Winthrop in an elimination game at the 2009 Royal Purple Big South Conference Baseball Championship.  First pitch is set for 11 a.m. and can be heard on the VMI Sports Network, either online at www.VMIKeydets.com or locally in Lexington on WREL 1450 AM.

2009 BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE BASEBALL ALL-CONFERENCE
 
FIRST-TEAM
SP       Cody Wheeler, Soph., LHP, Coastal Carolina
SP       Shawn Teufel, R-Jr., LHP, Liberty
SP       Anthony Meo, Fr., RHP, Coastal Carolina
RP       Nick McCully, Jr., RHP, Coastal Carolina
C         Billy Alvino, Sr., High Point
1B       David Anderson, Sr., Coastal Carolina
2B       A.J. Yoder, Sr., VMI
3B       Justin Loyd, Sr., Gardner-Webb
SS       Alfie Wheeler, Sr., High Point
DH      Eddie Rohan, Soph., Winthrop
OF       Curran Redal, Jr., Liberty
OF       Rico Noel, Soph., Coastal Carolina
OF       Brock Miller, Sr., Gardner-Webb
 
SECOND-TEAM
SP       Matteo D'Angelo, Soph., RHP, Winthrop
SP       Travis Smink, R-Jr., LHP, VMI
SP       Aerik Taylor, Jr., RHP, Radford
RP       Tyler Mizenko, Fr., RHP, Winthrop
C         Errol Hollinger, Sr., Liberty
1B       Alex Gregory, Sr., Radford
2B       Bryn Henderson, Sr., Winthrop
3B       Tyler Bortnick, Sr., Coastal Carolina
SS       Kevin Nolan, Jr., Winthrop
DH      Adam Rice, Jr., Coastal Carolina
OF       Daniel Cooke, Sr., Gardner-Webb
OF       Daniel Bowman, Fr., Coastal Carolina
OF       Cory Lyda, Sr., Presbyterian
 
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Mark Perry, Sr., Charleston Southern
Austin Fleet, Sr., Coastal Carolina
Jonathan Ahearn, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb
Billy Alvino, Sr., High Point
Errol Hollinger, Sr., Liberty
Mitchell Odom, Sr., Presbyterian
Alex Gregory, Sr., Radford
Justin Schumer, Jr., UNC Asheville
Adam Kruithof, Soph., VMI
Bryn Henderson, Sr., Winthrop
 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
David Anderson, Sr., 1B, Coastal Carolina
 
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Cody Wheeler, Soph., LHP, Coastal Carolina
 
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Jeff Kemp, SS, Radford
 
COACH OF THE YEAR
Gary Gilmore, Coastal Carolina
 
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Ahearn, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb