McKendree College upsets Missouri Baptist University in postseason tournament

In a vote by league coaches, Jason McStoots, a shortstop for the Missouri Baptist University is the AMC Player of the Year. McStoots, who was the AMC Newcomer of the Year last season, played in 42 games during the regular season, tallying a .385 batting average with 50 hits in 130 appearances at the plate. The Mendota, Ill. native knocked nine doubles, two triples and ten home runs, in addition to tallying 48 runs batted in.

Jon Kars, a junior pitcher for the Spartans from Missouri Baptist, is the AMC Pitcher of the Year.  Kars, who hails from Chesterfield, Mo., recorded a 9-2 record during the regular season, pitching 69.1 innings and totaling a 2.08 earned run average and 11 strikeouts. Kars faced 245 batters and gave up only 16 earned runs and two walks.

The AMC Newcomer of the Year honor is presented to the top transfer student-athlete in the AMC. Joe Sester, also a member of the Spartan baseball squad, is the 2003 recipient of the award. The senior outfielder played in 42 games for Missouri Baptist this season and notched a .371 batting average. Sester, who is from Compton, Ill., totaled 49 hits in 132 at-bats, including 10 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs and 46 RBIs.

Brian Dinkelman, a second baseman for the McKendree Bearcats, is the 2003 AMC Freshman of the Year. Dinkelman played in 49 games in his rookie campaign and recorded a .421 batting average. The Irvington, Ill. native smacked 72 hits in 171 at-bats and drove in 33 runs. He also totaled 16 doubles, three triples, five home runs and scored 49 runs, in addition to tallying a .959 fielding average.

The 2003 AMC Coach of the Year is Eddie Uschold from Missouri Baptist University. Uschold, who is in his third season at the helm of the Missouri Baptist program, led the Spartans to a first place, undefeated finish in the regular season race, going 18-0 vs. league foes. In addition, the Spartans finished with an overall record of 40-4 and are ranked No. 3 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll.

A complete list of the 18-member AMC all-conference team, the honorable mention squad and the academic all-conference team, is included below. Members of the academic all-conference team have earned at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.