May 19, 2008
San Antonio – St. Mary’s University student-athlete Scott Shimek was named Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year, Jonathon Rosfeld was named Freshman of the Year, while six Rattlers earned All-Heartland Conference honors in the league’s postseason baseball honors, released on Monday. In addition to Shimek and Rosfeld, Jonathon Cisneros, Michael Brzezinski, Braxton Watson and Danny Cantu also earned all-conference honors.
Shimek (Jr., Shiner) went 11-1 this season with a 3.18 ERA, four complete games and one shutout. He struck out 113 batters against just 39 walks in 93.1 innings this season. His 11-1 record is the second best winning percentage for a pitcher in a single season in school history, behind only Aaron Carter’s 15-1 mark in 1996. Shimek was also named first team all-conference; the first time that he has earned All-Heartland Conference honors. Twice this season he was named conference pitcher of the week. Shimek is the third Rattler to earn Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year honors. Jeff Wigdhal picked up the honor in 2004 and Caleb Staudt earned it in 2006.
Rosfeld (Fr., San Antonio) was the only freshman to earn All-Heartland Conference honors, picking up second team honors after hitting .353 with 13 doubles, four homeruns, 51 RBI, 69 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. He had hits in 43 of 56 games this season, including 22 games with two or more hits. Rosfeld is the fourth Rattler to earn Freshman of the Year honors in the eight-year history of the conference. Brandon Roznovsky was picked in 2001, Ryan Hill in 2003 and Michael Brzezinski in 2006.
Cisneros (So., San Antonio) had a break-out year for the Rattlers, hitting .437 with 24 doubles, 14 homeruns, 82 RBI and 58 runs scored. He also drew 38 walks to post a .524 on-base percentage. His batting average was the sixth highest in school history for a single season, while his .786 slugging percentage was fourth, his on-base percentage was fifth and his hit total fifth. His 24 doubles is the third best total in school history, while his homerun total is sixth and his RBI total fourth. He is also one of the toughest players in the nation to strike out, fanning just nine times in 206 at-bats this season. The all-conference selection was the second for Cisneros.
Brzezinski (Jr., Helotes) earned All-Heartland Conference first team honors for the third straight season. He hit .345 with 20 doubles, seven homeruns, 58 RBI and 73 runs scored. He tied for the team lead in walks with 38, helping him to a .448 on-base percentage. His 73 runs scored is the second most in school history for a single season.
Earning second team honors for the Rattlers were Watson, Cantu and Rosfeld. Watson (Jr., Spring) was a standout in his first season with the Rattlers, going 9-4 with a 4.15 ERA, eight complete games and 61 strikeouts in 84.2 innings of work. Cantu (Jr., Laredo) hit .359 with 14 doubles, four homeruns, 59 RBI and 54 runs scored to earn All-Heartland Conference honors for the first time.
The Rattlers finished the 2008 regular season with a 39-17 overall record and a 35-14 mark in Heartland Conference play, good for second place in the league standings. The Rattlers finished the season by winning eight of their last nine games.