May 19, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Purdue senior Brandon Haveman has been named first team All-Big Ten, the league office announced at the conference tournament banquet on Tuesday. Haveman was a unanimous selection for the postseason honor.

Joining the Boiler outfielder with league recognition were third team members John Cummins at first base, redshirt freshman Eric Charles at second, senior outfielder Alex Jaffee, as well as junior right-hander Matt Bischoff. Charles and outfielder Tyler Spillner were both named to the conference's all-freshman team.

The All-Big Ten Team was put together in a vote by the 10 head coaches, with each unable to vote for his own players.

Haveman, who was a second team All-Big Ten selection last year, led the league in batting average both overall and in conference contests upon conclusion of the regular season. The Zeeland, Mich., native enters the Big Ten Tournament hitting .412 (70 for 170) with 16 doubles, two triples, four homes, 23 RBIs and 36 runs scored. Despite missing all or parts of nine games due to injury this season, he still managed to lead Purdue in total hits, doubles and batting average. His active 17-game hitting streak is the longest of the season for Purdue.

In 21 Big Ten contests, Haveman hit a league-best .464 (45 for 97) with 10 doubles, a triple, three home runs, 10 RBIs and 25 runs scored. The 2009 season marked the second consecutive campaign in which he has won the league batting title in conference games. As a junior he hit .444 in the 31 Big Ten games.

Cummins, who missed 16 games in 2009 with a broken hand, impressed the league coaches enough to garner third team recognition. Appearing in just 16 of Purdue's 23 league games, the Terre Haute, Ind., native batted .441 (26 for 59) with six doubles, a triple, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored. His return to the lineup helped bolster an already potent Purdue offense and lift the Boilers into the final spot in the Big Ten Tournament. Cummins, who was feted by the league for the first time in his four-year career, is hitting .404 overall for the season with eight doubles, two triples, 17 RBIs and 17 runs scored. He was also named Purdue's nominee for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Charles turned in an impressive redshirt season after missing the 2008 campaign due to injury. The Zionsville, Ind., native took over the starting second base spot for injured teammate Ben Wolgamot on March 18 and never relinquished the role. He enters the conference tournament hitting .390 (57 for 146) with nine doubles, three triples, two homers, 20 RBIs and a team-best 45 runs scored.

Starting all 23 Big Ten games, Charles batted .378 (34 for 90) with five doubles, a triple, 12 RBIs and 25 runs scored in league games. The third team recognition was the first in his collegiate career.

Jaffe, who also took over a starting spot in the outfield when senior classmate Jonathan Moore was lost for the season with a knee injury, earned his first career league recognition after hitting .343 (49 for 143) with four doubles, five home runs, 23 RBIs and 33 runs scored in 45 games played. The El Paso, Texas, native appeared in all 23 of Purdue's Big Ten games this season, making 22 starts. He hit .378 (28 for 74) with two doubles all five of his homers, 13 RBIs and 20 runs scored in conference contests.

Bischoff, who was the 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a first team All-Big Ten selection in 2008, made it a perfect three-for-three with his third team recognition this season. The Decatur, Ind., native anchored the Purdue starting staff with a 4-4 overall record and 5.38 ERA in 87 innings pitched. The right-hander's 77 strikeouts placed him sixth in the conference upon conclusion of the regular season. In eight starts in conference games, Bischoff went 3-3 with 4.83 ERA in 59 2/3 innings. He tossed three complete games, struck out 50 Big Ten hitters and walked only 10.

Spillner, a true freshman from Fort Wayne, Ind., was named one of the league's top newcomers after hitting .294 (35 for 199) for the year with five doubles, a triple, a home run, 24 RBIs and 25 runs scored.

League champion Ohio State took home the majority of the top league awards. Catcher Dan Burkhart was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, right-hander Alex Wimmers shared the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year honors with Indiana's Eric Arnett and head coach Bob Todd was named the conference's top skipper. The Hoosiers' Alex Dickerson was named the league's top freshman.

The Boilers will open the Big Ten Tournament against rival Indiana and co-pitcher of the year Arnett on Wednesday. Should Purdue upset the No. 3-seeded Hoosiers, it would then square off against the other top pitcher this season, Wimmers, and top-seeded Ohio State on Thursday.

First pitch for the Purdue-IU tilt is slated for 3:35 p.m. All of the conference championship games will be played at Huntington Stadium, the home field of the Class AAA Columbus Clippers, and will be broadcast live on both the Big Ten Network and 1310 AM WSHY.

ALL-BIG TEN BASEBALL TEAMS

FIRST TEAM
1B - Mike Dufek, MICH
2B - Derek McCallum, MINN#
SS - Brandon Wikoff, ILL
3B - Dominic Altobelli, ILL
OF - Kipp Schutz, IND
OF - Ryan Durant, IOWA
OF - Brandon Haveman, PUR#
C - Josh Phegley, IND*
C - Dan Burkhart, OSU*
DH - Ryan Dew, OSU
SP - Eric Arnett, IND#
SP - Chris Fetter, MICH
SP - Alex Wimmers, OSU#
RP - Jake Hale, OSU

SECOND TEAM**
1B - Jerrud Sabourin, IND
2B - Cory Kovanda, OSU
SS - AJ Pettersen, MINN
3B - Justin Miller, OSU
OF - Pete Cappetta, ILL
OF - Ryan LaMarre, MICH
OF - Michael Stephens, OSU
DH - Alex Dickerson, IND
SP - Matt Bashore, IND
SP - Seth Rosin, MINN
SP - Dean Wolosiansky, OSU
RP - Scott Matyas, MINN

THIRD TEAM
1B - John Cummins, PUR
2B - Eric Charles, PUR
SS - Justin Toole, IOWA
3B - Jordan Steranka, PSU
OF - Willie Argo, ILL
OF - Mike Kvasnicka, MINN
OF - Alex Jaffee, PUR
C - Aaron Johnson, ILL
DH - Matt Nohelty, MINN
SP - Will Strack, ILL
SP - Tom Buske, MINN
SP - Matt Bischoff, PUR
RP - Chris Squires, IND*
RP - Ryan Ignas, PSU*

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
1B - Nick O'Shea, MINN
2B - Eric Charles, PUR
SS - AJ Pettersen, MINN#
3B - Jordan Steranka, PSU#
OF - Willie Argo, ILL#
OF - Justin Gominsky, MINN#
OF - Tyler Spillner, PUR
C - Dallas Burke, IOWA#
DH - Alex Dickerson, IND#
SP - Will Strack, ILL
SP - Blake Monar, IND#
SP - Tony Bucciferro, MSU
RP - Austin Lubinsky, MINN

BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan Burkhart, OSU

CO-PITCHERS OF THE YEAR
Eric Arnett, IND
Alex Wimmers, OSU

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Alex Dickerson, IND

COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Todd, OSU#

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Dominic Altobelli, Illinois
Jerrud Sabourin, Indiana
Justin Toole, Iowa
Kenny Fellows, Michigan
Nolan Moody, Michigan State
Matt Nohelty, Minnesota
Jake Wilson, Northwestern
Cory Kovanda, Ohio State
Ryan Boonie, Penn State
John Cummins, Purdue
# - Unanimous selection
* - Additional honorees due to tie
** - Fewer selections due to additional selections on first team

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