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RICHARDSON, Texas –– University of Texas at Dallas senior designated hitter/outfielder Trent Elizondo (East Division), Texas Lutheran University junior shortstop Jake Kaase (West Division) and Hardin-Simmons University senior outfielder Michael Simpson (West Division) all earned player of the year honors to highlight the 2007 American Southwest Conference baseball awards, following a division-only vote by each division’s head coaches, the conference office announced on Wednesday.

Among the 2007 ASC baseball award winners were pitchers Nathan Jennings and Jonathan Miller. James Vilade and Micah Wells received nods for their coaching leadership.

Elizondo (The Woodlands, Texas / Weatherford JC) batted .368 with five doubles and 15 RBI against East competition to lead the Comets to a runner-up finish, the right to host both rounds of the ASC Championship Tournament Series and a national ranking. He hit .446 overall with 14 doubles.

Kaase (Austin, Texas / Manor HS) batted .395 with three home runs and a league-best 35 RBI against West foes for the division champion and nationally-ranked Bulldogs, while Simpson (Abilene, Texas / Cooper HS) hit .388 with six homers and eight doubles against the West en route to leading the Cowboys to an ASC tournament berth. Overall, Kaase batted .424 with 50 RBI and Simpson hit .402 with 13 homers –currently best in the ASC and second-best in the nation.

All three were selected to their respective division’s First Team. Elizondo was a first team pick at DH and second team selection in the outfield.

University of Texas at Tyler senior right-handed reliever Nathan Jennings (Granbury, Texas / St. Edward’s) earned East Division Pitcher of the Year honors after not allowing a run with 18 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings of work against East hitters. He allowed just four hits, walked four and struck out 43 batters over 22 2/3 innings overall for the division champion Patriots. Concordia University at Austin senior starter Jonathan Miller (Houston, Texas / Texas-Brownsville) was dubbed West Division Pitcher of the Year after going 3-1 and recording a division-high 64 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings against the West. He fanned an ASC-best 102 batters overall –a total that currently leads the nation.

Other East honorees were University of the Ozarks junior outfielder John Glenn (Tulsa, Oklahoma / Fort Scott CC), who was named top newcomer, and Louisiana College second baseman Steven Davis (Monroe, Louisiana / Ouachita HS), who was dubbed freshman of the year. James Vilade, who led Texas-Tyler to an overall record of 37-1 and the East title, was voted coach of the year.

Also taking in awards from the West was McMurry University junior utility player Steve Yurchick (Rosenberg, Texas / Clarendon JC), who was named newcomer of the year, and Schreiner University starting pitcher Colton Hermes (Hallettsville, Texas / HHS), who was voted as top freshman. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Micah Wells was named coach of the year after leading the Crusaders to their first-ever berth into the ASC tournament.

[Note: baseball awards are given only at the Division level.]