UNIVERSITY CENTER— Saginaw Valley State University Baseball Coach Walt Head announced the 2000 awards and letterwinners. The Cardinals posted a 40-11-1 record this season and won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship with 23-5-1 slate. Six Cardinal seniors earned their fourth varsity letters.
     Senior shortstop Kraig Enders (Sanford/Sanford-Meridian) and junior second baseman Jason Valenzuela (Ontario, CA) were named the team's "Co-Most Valuable Players." Valenzuela was named the NCAA Division II North Central Region "Player of the Year" and earned third-team All-America honors while setting SVSU single-season records for batting average (.448) and hits (86).
     Enders, a first-team All-GLIAC and second-team all-region performer, set single-season school records for home runs (13) and RBI (58). A third-team All-American last season, Enders finished his career as the SVSU all-time leader in batting average (.377). He finished third in career home runs (24) and triples (8), fifth in stolen bases (42), sixth in runs scored (142) and ninth in RBI (127).
     The Cardinal Baseball "Outstanding Offensive Player" award went to senior Joel Dohm (Owosso). An honorable mention All-GLIAC outfielder, Dohm batted .337 this season with a team high 19 doubles. He also tallied five home runs and 46 RBI while starting 50 of the Cardinals' 52 games this season. Possibly the most prolific hitter in school history, Dohm appears on in the top 10 of 9 SVSU career lists including RBI (1st), doubles (1st), home runs (tied for 1st), strikeouts (3rd), runs scored (4th), at bats (5th), hits (5th), batting average (6th), and walks (tied for 7th).
     Senior catcher Josh Miller (Whitby, Ont.) was tabbed "Outstanding Defensive Player." The first-team All-GLIAC selection was stellar behind the plate this season, cutting down 17 attempted base stealers and picking off another 10. Miller tallied a .344 batting average and lead the squad with a .519 on base percentage.
     Junior Tim Goheen (Proton Station, Ont.) earned the team's "Top Pitcher" award. Goheen was named the "Pitcher of the Year" in the NCAA II North Central Region and GLIAC while garnering second-team All-America honors. He posted an 11-1 record this season with a 2.48 ERA, winning 13 straight games dating back to last season. Goheen set SVSU single-season records for victories (11), innings (83.1) and complete games (10).
     The "Top Freshman" accolade was awarded to pitcher Scott Corby (London, Ont.). The rookie set SVSU single-season records for strikeouts (78) and games started (13). Corby tallied a 6-1 record and a 4.54 earned run average this season and went undefeated against NCAA II competition.
     Sophomore Adam Ruffner (Gibraltar/Carlson) earned the team's "Most Improved" award. The outfielder/pitcher started 44 games in centerfield, posting a .246 batting average with four home runs and 22 RBI. Ruffner also made nine appearances on the mound, starting one game, and tallying a 6-0 record with two saves and a team-best 1.73 earned run average.
     The "Brian Miller" award for best grade point average was given to senior Steve Groulx (Mt. Morris). Groulx has earned a 3.84 GPA (4.0 scale) while majoring in elementary education. The utility infielder played in 32 games this season and posting a .292 batting average.
     Sophomore Bryan Bohn (Hemlock) was honored with the "Coach's Award" for demonstrating hard work and team spirit both on and off the field of play.
     SVSU posted the best season in the program's history, setting team records for most wins (40), fewest losses (11), best winning percentage (.779), most GLIAC wins (23), and best GLIAC winning percentage (.810). The Cardinals earned their first-ever NCAA II regional playoff berth, bowing out in the regional final.
     Head, coaching in his 18th season at SVSU, also reached a milestone this season, winning his 500th game during the team's last home stand against Gannon University. His career mark now stands at 503-373-5 (.572) with a GLIAC record of 226-152-2 (.597).
     The team had a stellar season in the classroom as well. The squad posted the highest team GPA among the men's athletic teams at SVSU with a 2.80 average. The baseball team boasted one member of the President's List (4.0 GPA), 11 members of the Dean's List (3.7 GPA), and 22 scholar athletes (3.0 GPA). Senior pitcher Spencer Bodzick (Pellston) graduated after the winter semester with cum laude honors.