FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Torye Hurst, Virginia Tech
Phone: (540) 231-8823

June 28, 2007


VaSID Announces '07 Univ. All-State Baseball Team
Thompson, Bour Also Garner Awards

BLACKSBURG, Va.  — James Madison University outfielder Kellen Kulbacki and University of Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor captured top honors for the second consecutive season on the University Division All-State Baseball team chosen by the Virginia College Sports Information Directors (VaSID).

Kulbacki was selected as the Player of the Year, while O’Connor won the Coach of the Year award. Additionally, Virginia’s Jacob Thompson was chosen as the Pitcher of the Year and Jason Bour from George Mason University was selected as the Rookie of the Year.

2007 VaSID Univ. Division All-State Baseball Team

Kulbacki, a two-time All-American and the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year for the past two seasons, hit .398 this year with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs. He led the CAA in slugging (.785), on-base percentage (.538), and walks (56). Additionally, Kulbacki was ranked eighth nationally in home runs per game, fourth in walks, eighth in slugging, 14th in home runs and 43rd in average. He was drafted 40th overall in the 2007 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres.

O’Connor, in his fourth season at Virginia, was named the VaSID Division I Baseball Coach of the Year for the fourth straight year after directing the Cavaliers to a 45-16 season, including a trip to the NCAA tournament.

Thompson, a first-team Louisville Slugger and Rivals.com All-American selection, posted the sixth-best ERA (1.50) in school history and limited opponents to a .198 batting average. He posted an 11-0 record and was a first-team All-ACC selection.

Bour was a first-team All-CAA selection after hitting .366 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs. His average ranks as the seventh highest in school history and Bour was 36th nationally in slugging (.673).

Kulbacki and Thompson, along with Sergio Miranda (VCU) and Sean Doolittle (Virginia), were repeat selections on the first team of the VaSID squad. Virginia led the way with four players on the 12-man first team, while George Mason had three followed by James Madison, Old Dominion, Richmond, VCU and William & Mary with one player selected. Including second team selections, Virginia had a total of six players named followed by George Mason and ODU with three each. James Madison, Longwood, VCU and William & Mary had two selections and Liberty, Norfolk State, Radford and Richmond each placed one player on the team.

All-State teams are selected by active members of the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.  For more information, please visit the VaSID site at http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/vasid.

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