Gasser, Mullins headline 2011 All-American class

Marietta's Brian Gasser is the fifth D3baseball.com Pitcher of the Year. Marietta athletics photo

Marietta's Brian Gasser and Case Western Reserve's Chad Mullins were named the D3baseball.com Pitcher and Player of the year for the 2011 season, joining 63 others on the 2011 D3baseball.com All-American team. This is the first appearance for Gasser on a D3baseball.com All-America team. Mullins was an honorable mention on the 2011 preseason team.

The full 2011 D3baseball.com All-American team

Gasser, ranked nationally first in wins and fourth in ERA, led a Marietta pitching staff with the sixth best ERA in D-III history (1.71). On April 7, Gasser pitched the 20th no-hitter in Marietta history with a 7-1 win against Baldwin-Wallace.

"Marietta has been fortunate enough to have had some very talented pitchers go through our program but this is as special a season as any has ever put together," said Marietta coach Brian Brewer. "Brian's numbers speak for themselves, we are very proud of his accomplishments on the field and off."

Mullins led the Spartans to an appearance in the Mideast regional tournament where they finished third to Marietta and Heidelberg. The third baseman led the nation in RBI and was in the top 10 in hits (second), runs scored (seventh) and total bases (eighth).

"Chad is a great player who has provided as much leadership as on-field production", said Case Western Reserve coach Matt Englander. "His attitude, discipline and ability were exemplary and he truly was the catalyst for our success this year."

Greg Van Sickler of Shenandoah and Chapman's Brian Rauh repeated as first team selections.  Van Sickler, the USA South Player and Pitcher of the Year, led the Hornets to a midseason No. 1  ranking in the Top 25 in 2011. Sophomore Rauh has now made the first team All-America list in his first two years in a Panther uniform.

Chad Mullins led Case to a 33-15 record and an appearance in the NCAA playoffs. Case Western Reserve athletics photo

Joining Gasser is teammate John Synder.  Snyder, Kean's Ken Gregory and Washington U.'s Brandon Rogalski each earned honors for their play in the outfield. Gasser, Gregory, Rauh and Synder will all be playing this weekend in the Division III Baseball Championships.

Mass-Boston second baseman Ryan Walsh leads the first team infield as the only repeat All-American selection. Along with Walsh and Mullins is first baseman Andrew Thole, Thomas More and shortstop Charlie Carluccio, Haverford. Anderson's Michael Tucker, the HCAC Most Valuable Player, is the first team catcher. The designated hitter selection was Troy Tarrant of Hardin-Simmons.

Heidelberg relief specialist Andy Lowe is a three-time selection. Lowe was a third team selection in 2010 and on the second team in 2009. The final member of the pitching staff is Moravian's Brendan Close. Close, the Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year, set school record for wins, shutouts, strikeouts and innings pitched in 2011.

Five players not listed on the first team also made repeat appearances on a D3baseball.com All-American team. Honorable mention selections Ricardo Lizcano, Heidelberg and Kevin Brashears, Shenandoah were both first team honorees in 2010. the final three repeat players are Jeff Dovovan of UW-Whitewater, Wooster's Greg Van Horn and Guilford's Kyle Wooden. Donovan, who quarterbacked the Warhawks' football team to the 2009 national championship, was also named a D3football.com All-American that season.

The D3baseball.com All-American teams is composed of players nominated by sports information directors and head coaches and selected by a panel of sports information directors and D3baseball.com staff.