Tennessee Tech's Stuart Meinhart awarded by OVC

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -Tennessee Tech's Stuart Meinhart was named to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Freshman team, which was announced Tuesday by the OVC as voted by the league's head baseball coaches and sports information directors.

Joining Meinhart on the All-Freshman team are Christian Friedrich (Eastern Kentucky), Ryan Gilboy (Austin Peay), Michael Marseco (Samford), Bert Smith (Jacksonville State), Brett Nommensen (Eastern Illinois), David Knapp (Samford), Eric Hash (Eastern Kentucky), Tyler Owen (Murray State), Andrew Graham (Southeast Missouri), Aaron Barrows (Eastern Kentucky), Aaron Rave (Southeast Missouri) and Eric Walker (UT Martin).

Meinhart, a product of Brentwood, Tenn. High School, batted a .248 for the year, picking up 36 hits, 21 runs, 13 doubles, three round trippers and 58 RBI.

EKU'S Charlie Yarbrough was named the 2006 OVC Player of the Year while Samford's Josh Emke was selected as the 2006 OVC Pitcher of the Year. Samford's Casey Dunn was named the 2006 OVC Coach of the Year, who helped the Bulldogs post a 32-23 (21-6 OVC) regular-season record.  


FIRST TEAM ALL-OVC
C - Levi Olson, Southeast Missouri
1B - Charlie Yarbrough, Eastern Kentucky
2B - Omar Padilla, Southeast Missouri
SS - Michael Marseco, Samford
3B - Parker Gargis, Samford
OF - Mark Chagnon, Eastern Illinois
OF - Nick Cleckler, Jacksonville State
OF - Brett Bolger, Eastern Kentucky
UT - Ryan Gilboy, Austin Peay
DH - Chris O'Dell, Eastern Kentucky
SP - Josh Ehmke, Samford
SP - Christian Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky
RP - Joseph Edens, Samford

SECOND TEAM ALL-OVC
C - Richard Turner, Jacksonville State
1B - Erik Huber, Eastern Illinois
2B - Bert Smith, Jacksonville State
2B - Seth Hudson, Murray State
SS - Adam Varrassi, Eastern Illinois
3B - Jake Ball, Jacksonville State
OF - Cody Youngblood, Austin Peay
OF - Ryan Kane, Austin Peay
OF - Clay Whittemore, Jacksonville State
UT - Eric Beck, Jacksonville State
DH - Garrett Rice, Samford
SP - Donovan Hand, Jacksonville State
SP - Rowdy Hardy, Austin Peay
RP - Brad Daniel, Austin Peay

2006 OVC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Christian Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky
Ryan Gilboy, Austin Peay
Michael Marseco, Samford
Bert Smith, Jacksonville State
Brett Nommensen, Eastern Illinois
David Knapp, Samford
Eric Hash, Eastern Kentucky
Tyler Owen, Murray State
Andrew Graham, Southeast Missouri
Aaron Barrows, Eastern Kentucky
Stuart Meinhart, Tennessee Tech
Aaron Rave, Southeast Missouri
Eric Walker, UT Martin

Player of the Year:  Charlie Yarbrough, Eastern Kentucky
Pitcher of the Year: Josh Ehmke, Samford
Freshman of the Year: Christian Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky
Coach of the Year: Casey Dunn, Samford