Portage’s Tony Cheky named to Big Ten all-tournament team
By John Mutka Post-Tribune senior correspondent May 28, 2012 7:44PM
Updated: July 3, 2012 12:09PM
Michigan State dropped two games to Indiana in the Big Ten tournament, but Portage’s Tony Cheky was named to the Big Ten all-tournament team over the weekend. The freshman rapped four hits in a 10-9 victory over Nebraska and went 2-for-4 in a loss to the Hoosiers. In the regular season he led MSU with 15 stolen bases.
Cheky batted .305 and played errless ball for the Spartans, who received an at-large bid to the NCAA Regional at Palo Alto, California. They’ll open with Pepperdine.
Pitcher Blake Mascarello (Crown Point) was named to the all-Big Ten second team before helping Purdue win the Big Ten tournament. Used strictly in relief, the senior lefty posted an 8-1 record with three saves.
In the tournament Mascarello had two wins over archrival IU. He buttoned up a 3-0 shutout with 12/3 innings, but the Hoosiers roughed him up in 21/3 innings in Purdue’s 6-5 victory for the tournament championship. In 68 innings the pinpoint pitcher issued only 10 walks.
Teammate Ryan Bridges (Griffith) helped Purdue clinch the regular-season title with three hits and three RBI in an 11-8 win at Iowa.
Indiana’s Dustin DeMuth (LaPorte) went 5-for-12 in the first three games of the Big Ten tournament and drove in two runs in a 6-4 victory over Michigan State. The sophomore third baseman helped IU win 15 of its last 20 games with a .263 average, including 11 doubles.
In his 22nd relief appearance Chris Saroff (Crown Point) struck out four in two scoreless innings, but Indianapolis dropped into the loser’s bracket of the Division II World Series with a 2-1 loss to Catawba. Saroff is 3-2 with 11 saves and a 2.43 ERA. The Greyhounds (46-15) will try to avoid elimination today.
Indiana State’s Sean Manaea (Wanatah/Andrean) pitched his way to the Missouri Valley all-conference second team. His record is 5-2. He struck out 106 in 97.2 innings to spur the Sycamores to the regular-season title, but they went two-and-out in the MVC tournament.
Lewis University made its first midwest regional appearance since 1996 with the help of Mike Schroeder (Crown Point/North Newton), who doubled as a first baseman and pitcher.
Schroeder batted .335 with 12 doubles and 38 RBI, The junior left hander also fashioned a 6-2 record with a 3.18 ERA. Four of his eight starts were complete games and he only walked nine in 51 innings. The Flyers finished with a 33-22 record.
Notre Dame’s Adam Norton (Highland/Andrean) transitioned from infield to pitching to earn his third letter. The junior led the Irish staff in innings pitched with 91. He walked only seven and struck out 49. Norton had a 4-5 record with a 4.45 ERA in 14 starts. He played 3B and SS as a freshman, and was DH last year with a .257 career average.
Softball
Lewis’ Alyssa Moseley (Crown Point/Andrean) started 44 games for the Flyers, batting .248. The sophomore first baseman had four homers and 23 RBI for the Flyers. Junior Phoebe Conner (Munster) batted .286 in 13 games started.
DePauw’s Jen Kosinski (Schererville/Lake Central) ended nine homers, including a three-run blast against Denison which helped the Tigers reach the title game in the North Coast Conference tournament. The senior shortstop led the Tigers with a .446 average, 37 RBI and a .769 slugging pct. She was named to the all-conference and all-tournament first team, scoring 20 runs and driving in 15 in 16 games.
Freshman Sabrina Alaniz (Portage) made the most of her part-time status. Three of her 11 hits at Taylor were home runs.
Tennis
Senior Alaina Trgovich (Munster) was named Wisconsin’s MVP Her record of 12-11, included four wins at No. 1 singles. She also teamed up with two different partners to go 14-10 in doubles. She earned second team all-Big Ten honors.
