The University of Akron Athletics
Davidson, McNulty Earn Postseason Honors
May 23 | Baseball
Juniors Kurt Davidson and Doug
McNulty, two cornerstones of the Akron offense, have been named
to the All-Mid-American Conference team, the league office
announced early Wednesday morning. Davidson (North Canton,
Ohio/Hoover), who became the school's all-time home run leader this
spring, was named to the first team while McNulty (Homer City,
Pa./Homer-Center), who finished sixth in the league with a .356
batting average, earned second team honors.
"It's a great honor for both Kurt and Doug due to the fact that
they earned the respect they deserve not just from one or two
coaches, but from all the 12 coaches around the league," UA head
coach Pat Bangtson said.
Davidson broke the school's home run record with his 29th career
round-tripper against Ohio University on May 6th at Lee Jackson
Field, surpassing the previous mark of 28 shared by Mike Doerbecker
(1996-99) and Dick Duncan (1981-84). The historic accomplishment
capped off another big year for Davidson, who hit safely in all but
eight games and reached base in all but four.
Overall, the third-year catcher and second team all-league
selection a year ago hit .325 (19th in the MAC) and was among the
league leaders in hits (1.36.game, 6th), home runs (.21/game, 2nd),
doubles (.32/game, 4th), RBI (.94/game, t-4th), total bases
(2.32/game, 4th) and slugging percentage (.553/6th). His 40 runs
scored and 10 home runs paced the Zips.
"In Kurt's case, it's always tough to repeat an all-conference
performance and an even tougher one to go from the second team to
the first team," Bangtson said. "But it's a credit to the hard work
that Kurt put in not only with his hitting but also with the
leadership he displayed in calling a game and working with the
pitching staff."
Davidson, a Viriginia Valley League all-star last summer, was rated
the top catching prospect in the conference in Baseball America's
college preview edition last January.
McNulty enjoyed a breakout season for the Zips in leading the team
in batting average (6th in MAC), at-bats (180), triples (4), RBI
(36), stolen bases (11) and multiple-hit games (23). The first
baseman was at his best when the pressure was on with a
team-leading .360 batting average in conference play and a pair of
game-winners to his credit, including a walk-off single in a 7-6
decision over Northern Iowa on March 9.
"It was a very competitive ballot at the first base position
because there are so many talented first basemen in our league,"
Bangtson said. "But Doug became a much more consistent hitter for
us this year. And the biggest thing that helped us out as a team
was that he made himself a much better defensive player. He's an
enthusiastic leader for us and deserves the credit."
McNulty hit safely in 15 of the first 16 games of the season and
batted .400 or better through the first 11, spanning nearly a
month. He posted three hits or more on five occasions, including a
four-hit performance at Bowling Green on April 21. McNulty finished
the season with a 10-game hitting streak and homered in three of
the final seven contests of the year.
ZIPS NOTEBOOK: Overall, Davidson is the seventh
first-team all-MAC selection from Akron since the school joined the
conference in 1993 and is the first since Doug Kruthaupt following
the 2005 campaign. Davidson and pitcher Ross Liersemann, an
18th-round selection of the Florida Marlins in the 2006 Major
League Amateur Draft, were each named to the second team last
spring ... McNulty became the first player in school history to hit
for the cycle in 2006.
2007 ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
C Kurt Davidson, Jr., Akron
1B Ben Humphrey, Sr., Central Michigan
1B Marc Krauss, Fr., Ohio
2B Mike Folli, Jr., Buffalo
SS Jordan Petratis, So., Miami
3B Andrew Davis, Sr., Kent State
OF Tyler Stovall, Jr., Central Michigan
OF Steve Bradshaw, Jr., Eastern Michigan
OF Anthony Gallas, Fr., Kent State
SP Josh Collmenter, Jr., Central Michigan
SP George Biddle, Sr., Eastern Michigan
SP Jeff Fischer, Jr., Eastern Michigan
SP John Ely, Jr., Miami
RP Matt German, Sr., Northern Illinois
DH Greg Rohan, So., Kent State
2007 ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM
C Derek Lehrman, Sr., Eastern Michigan
1B Jeff Carroll, Sr., Miami
1B Doug McNulty, Jr., Akron
2B Jordan Hood, Fr., Northern Illinois
SS Jeff Helps, Jr., Central Michigan
3B Jesse Seykora, Sr., Northern Illinois
OF Matt Stiffler, Jr., Ohio
OF Willie Walker, Sr., Ohio
OF Drew Hoisington, Jr., Toledo
SP Mike Radanovic, Sr., Buffalo
SP Dan Taylor, So., Central Michigan
SP Sean Hoffman, So., Eastern Michigan
SP Ethan Hollingsworth, Western Michigan
RP Matt Shoemaker, So., Eastern Michigan
DH Billy Anderson, Fr., Central Michigan
MAC Player of the Year
Tyler Stoval, Central Michigan
MAC Pitcher of the Year
Josh Collmenter, Central Michigan
MAC Freshman of the Year
Marc Krauss, Ohio
MAC Coach of the Year
Roger Coryell, Eastern Michigan
