ASHLAND, Ohio - Steve Lyon, head baseball coach at Grand Valley State University, was named the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) 2009 Midwest Region "Coach of the Year" in conjunction with the release of the All-Region teams. Four Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) baseball players were named to the 2009 All-Midwest Region first team, while seven GLIAC student-athletes were named to the second team.

Lyon has led the Lakers to a 45-14-1 record this spring, including GLIAC Tournament and NCAA Division II Midwest Region titles.  Currently ranked 14th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II poll, GVSU will be making its fourth appearance in the D-II Baseball Championship during Lyon's tenure.  The Lakers have won six consecutive GLIAC Tournament titles, including 17 consecutive GLIAC Tournament games.  Lyon has posted a 420-166-2 (.714) mark at Grand Valley State and a 533-267-3 (.665) overall college coaching record.

GLIAC players making the All-Midwest Region first team are:  Grand Valley State junior second baseman Kyle Gendron; Ashland University junior third baseman Jacob Petkac, senior outfielder Jeff Foltz, junior pitcher Ajay Meyer, and junior pitcher/DH Ben Minard.

Earning All-Region second team honors were:  GVSU junior infielder Cory Maguire, freshman outfielder Cody Grice, senior pitcher Andre Benjamin, and senior pitcher Ben Knuth; Wayne State University sophomore catcher Michael Wiseman and junior outfielder Ryan LaPensee; and Tiffin University junior outfielder Ty Blake.

In addition, four GLIAC players were named to the Rawlings Midwest Region "Gold Glove" team, recognizing the region's best defensive players.  Joining Petkac and Wiseman on the team were Ashland senior outfielder Tyson Rowland and University of Findlay junior pitcher Matt Webber.

-30-