College Baseball: Huskies announce team captains for 2012

St. Cloud--The St. Cloud State University baseball team has announced that juniors Brian Hansen (Cold Spring/Rocori H.S.) and Scott Lieser (Browerville/Browerville H.S.) will serve as team captains for the upcoming 2012 season at SCSU along with second-year captains Logan Birr (St. Cloud/Apollo H.S.) and Joey Benke (Roseau/Roseau H.S.).

“All four of these young men epitomize what Husky baseball is all about," SCSU coach Pat Dolan said. "They are all leaders in their own way, but they all lead. They are all team 'first type' of guys that display the work ethic you like in your leaders.”

Birr begins his senior season at SCSU with a 20-6 career record, which includes 188 career strikeouts. He earned All-America honors in 2009 and was named the NSIC Rookie of the Year that season. In 2011 and 2009, Birr earned All-NSIC and All-Region awards as a starting pitcher. In the summer of 2011, Birr pitched for Thunder Bay of the Nortwoods League.

Benke has been a three-year standout for the Huskies in the outfield and at first base. An offensive threat whenever he is at the plate, Benke was named to the All-NSIC team in 2010 and 2011. An All-Regionselection in 2010, Benke was named the NSIC All-Tournament team in 2010 and 2011.

Benke's career numbers include a .383 batting average, 159 runs, 191 hits, 46 doubles, 14 triples, 24 homers and 141 RBIs over the past three seasons. He already owns the team record for most career doubles and career RBIs. Benke only needs 36 more hits in 2012 to tie the team's career hit record of 227 set by Mike McKinney from 1996-99. Benke has previously played for St. Cloud in the Northwoods League.

Lieser is coming off an outstanding pitching season in 2011 for the Huskies. An All-NSIC and All-Region selection, Lieser posted a 9-0 record with a 2.91 ERA to his credit in 2011. He issued 85 strikeouts last spring and his career mark at SCSU stands at 12-0. In 2011, Lieser pitched for Willmar of the Northwoods League.

The group of captains if completed by Hansen, who earned Gold Glove honors as SCSU's centerfielder in 2011. Last spring, Hansen batted .318 with 50 runs, 67 hits, 40 RBIs and 14 doubles to his credit. In two years with the Huskies, Hansen owns a .332 batting average with 102 runs and 130 hits at SCSU. He played summer ball for the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League and he was also selected by Cleveland in the major league baseball draft in June, 2011.

In addition to the announcement of the 2011 team captains, Coach Dolan announced the 2011 SCSU Baseball Fall Baseball Award Winners. The awards were voted on by the members of the SCSU baseball team. The names and awards are listed below:

2011 SCSU Fall Baseball Award Winners (voted on by the players)

Most Valuable Husky: Joey Benke and Sean Borman
Top Defensive Player: Travis Cariveau
Top Hitter: Brian Hansen
Top Pitcher: Scott Lieser
Most Improved: Michael Jurgella
Top Freshman Pitcher: Logan Spitzach
Top Freshman Hitter: Zack Hoffman

Courtesy: Tom Nelson/St. Cloud State University Media Relations