Six Tigers earn all-region honors

Andrew Utterback is one of three former MCC baseball players currently playing at Alabama A&M University
Andrew Utterback is one of three former MCC baseball players currently playing at Alabama A&M University

The Marshalltown Community College baseball team placed six players on the 2013 All-Region squad, including three players on the first-team. The Tigers reached the Region XI championship game as the No. 3 seed and finished the season with a 23-24 record.

William Salas earned his second career all-region selection with a first-team pick in 2013. The sophomore infielder was an honorable mention choice during his freshman campaign. Freshman Corey Ceponis and Ty Russell joined Salas on the first-team.

Daryl Blaskovich and Andrew Utterback both were named to the second-team while right-handed pitcher Ron Gombos was an honorable mention pick.

Salas posted a .361 batting average on the year while finishing fourth in Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) with 16 stolen bases. Salas scored a team-high 48 runs while driving in 17.

Russell led the way for the Tigers in 2013 with a .369 batting average, collecting 39 hits and scoring 25 times. The freshman posted an on-base percentage of .469 after recording 19 walks, tied for the team lead.

Ceponis became the team's first pitcher to earn first-team all-region honors since 2011. The southpaw went 7-0 on the year, winning the second-most games in the conference. The freshman also recorded a conference-best mark of 64 strikeouts on the year.

Utterback and Blaskovich provided solid bats in the lineup for the Tigers, hitting .339 and .329 respectively. The two combined for 73 runs batted in on the year.

Gombos provided relief in the Tigers' bullpen, throwing 29.2 innings, striking out 33 hitters. The freshman recorded a 3.03 earned run average on the year.