Former Staunton Brave Jon Jay was named Division I Third Team All-American by Louisville Slugger.

HARRISONBURG, Va., June 28 – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its 2005 Division All-Americans earlier this month.  Here’s a glimpse at some of those recognized who play or have played in the Valley League.

Matt Goyen- New Market ’03 - was one of four pitchers chosen by the NCBWA to be on the Division II All-American First Team this year.  This honor makes him the first Bobcat player ever to earn a first team All-American spot.  Goyen was a starting pitcher for Georgia College and State University and posted an ERA of 1.99 for the 2005 season.  He ended with a 9-1 record, two shutouts and 122 strikeouts.  His 122 strikeouts were just seven shy of the school record and the third most by a GC & SU pitcher in a single season.  He also ranks 4th, with 260 Ks, on the school’s all-time list.  In addition to making the All-America First Team, Goyen was named to the All-South Atlantic Region First Feam by the ABCA, along with earning the Peach Belt Conference and NCAA South Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year Awards.  He led the league holding opposing hitters to a .185 batting average and reaching double digits for strikeouts 8 times. 

Ryan Taylor- Covington ’04,’05 - the second baseman for West Virginia State during the 2005 season was named to the Division II All America First Team by the NCBWA.  He led his team this season in four offensive categories with 101 hits, 84 runs, 168 total bases, and a batting average of .443.  He also hit 15 home runs and 66 RBI.  Taylor set a school record with a 34 game hitting streak, also putting him in the Top Ten All-Time list for Division II baseball.  Along with being named to the All-American Team, he made the All-North Atlantic Region First Team.  Last year he posted a batting average of .284, with 21 hits, 8 runs, 2 home runs, and 12 RBI for the Lumberjacks.   

Zach Baldwin- Front Royal ’05 – was named to the 2005 Division II All-American Second Team by the NCBWA, after posting a 10-0 record this year for West Virginia State.  He topped the conference with an ERA of 1.81, and fanned 67 batters in 69.2 innings of play.  He was also selected as the Yellow Jacket’s Top Male Athlete by students, to the All-American Second Team by the ABCA, and as the North Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year by the NCBWA.

Frank Gailey- New Market ’05 – pitched for West Chester University this year and was given Honorable Mention for Division II All-Americans from the NCBWA.  He recorded the lowest ERA on the team with 1.53, 8th lowest all time at West Chester, and went 7-2 for the season.  He posted 2 shutouts and held opposing batters to an average of just .222 in 76.1 innings of play. 

Alex Gonzalez- Woodstock ’04 – was awarded 2005 Division II All-American Honorable Mention from the NCBWA as a pitcher for Barry University.  He completed the season with a record of 9-3 and an ERA of 3.03.  He led the Sunshine State Conference with 121 strikeouts, which also set a Barry single season record and put him a-top the career leaders with 285 K.  Gonzalez tied another career leader spot by getting two shutouts this year, giving him 3 in all.  He was also named by the ABCA to the All-South Region First Team.  Alex led Woodstock in 2004 with an ERA of 2.66, and a record of 4-3.  In 67.2 innings of play he held hitters to a .203 batting average giving up just 48 hits and 22 runs.

Matt Keller- New Market ’04,’05 –, a PSAC Pitcher of the Week in 2005 from Kutztown University, received Honorable Mention for the Division II All-American team this year from the NCBWA.  He finished out with an ERA of 3.47, a record of 11-2, and 4 saves in 72.2 innings.  His 11 wins gave him a spot as the second most winning season by a pitcher at KU, and he established a school career record with 15 saves.  The ABCA named him the DII All-North Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year, to the DII All American Third Team, as well as the All-North Atlantic region First Team with the NCBWA. In 2004, Keller had an ERA of 2.45 in 18.1 innings of play with the Rebels.  He gave up just 5 runs on 23 hits and struck out 19.

Lee Tabor- New Market ’05 –, who pitched for Francis Marion this year, with a record of 9-3 and an ERA of 2.33 received Division II All-American Honorable Mention from the NCBWA for his play on the ball field.  Tabor was 2nd in wins and 3rd in ERA among all Peach Belt Pitchers and allowed just one earned run in his last 24 innings for the season.  Tabor was also chosen for the DII South Atlantic All-Region First Team by the ABCA.

Kevin Gergel- Front Royal ’02 – from Kennesaw State received 2005 DII All-American Honorable Mention from the NCBWA this year after leading his team in 6 offensive categories.  He was named the team’s Triple Crown winner with 13 home runs, 51 RBI, 120 total bases, a batting average of .387, a slugging percentage of .694, and an on base percentage of .474.  Not only did his slugging and on base percentages earn him the top spot on his team, but he was also number one in the Peach Belt for both.  He was also awarded Peach Belt Player of the Week and the ABCA picked him be part of the DII All-American Third Team.

Marion Knowles- New Market ’03,’04 –, a first baseman at North Florida, was given Division II All-American honorable mention this year by the NCBWA.  He led his team in home runs and RBI with 18 and 57 respectively, both of which were career highs for him.  He ended with a batting average of .318 and tied for the top spot on his team in slugging percentage with .637.  In addition to All-American honors, he was named to the All-South Atlantic Region First Team and the All-Peach Belt Conference squad by the ABCA. In 2004, Marion led the Rebels with over 100 plate appearances with an average of .306 in 134 at bats.  He finished out with 5 home runs, 21 RBI, and an on base percentage of .408.

Jon Skorupski- Front Royal ’04 – was one of 4 third basemen given Division II All-American Honorable Mention by the NCBWA for the 2005 season.  He was first on his team in runs with 57, tied for second in home runs with 15, and third in batting average with .344.  He was also chosen by the ABCA to be a member of the All-South Atlantic Region First Team and All-Peach Belt Conference Squad. For the Cardinals in 2004, Skorupski had the second highest batting average at .331 and chalked up 9 home runs.  He was also second on the team in RBI with 28.

Nick Diyorio- Woodstock ’05 – was given DII All-American Honorable Mention for his play at Florida Southern this season by the NCBWA.  He batting average of .403 and on base percentage of .452 were both good enough to earn him the number one spot in both categories for his team.  As well as receiving All-American accolades he was voted by league coaches and SIDS to the All-Sunshine State Conference First Team.

John Madden- Luray ’02,’03 – was chosen as a relief pitcher for the Division I All-American Third Team by Louisville Slugger TPX after finishing his season at Auburn with a record of 6-2 and ranking seventh in the nation with 7 saves.  He ended with an ERA of 1.77 and 58 strike outs in 86.1 innings of play.  Madden was all selected for the All-South Eastern Conference First Team this year.

Jon Jay- Staunton ’04 – an outfielder from the University of Miami, was selected by Louisville Slugger TPX to be on the Division I All-American Third Team this year.  He had the highest batting average on his team with .404, and also took the top spot with a .494 on base percentage.  Jay was also chosen for the All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team by the head coaches from 11 ACC teams. Jay ended the 2004 season with the Braves with a batting average of .302 in 126 appearance at the plate, with 11 RBI.