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BLACKSBURG, Va. - In voting conducted by the Virginia College Sports Information Directors (VaSID) and announced today, three Virginia Tech players were named to the University Division All-State Baseball team with freshman catcher Mark Zagunis highlighting the selections with his being voted as the Rookie of the Year. He was also named All-State First Team, while outfielder Tyler Horan and Utility player Jake Atwell made the second team.

The rising sophomore becomes the first major award-winning player for Tech baseball, in reference to VaSID, since the three yearly categories (Player, Pitcher and Rookie) began in 2006. His first team selection and Rookie of the Year award come after leading the team in batting (.344), on-base percentage (.430) and stolen bases (17). He was also second in hits (65) and doubles (13), and third in slugging percentage (.513), total bases (97), walks (21) and tied for third in RBI (34), triples (2) and hit-by-pitch (9). He had a team-best 13-game hitting streak and once had a reaching base streak that spanned 36 games.

The Cinnaminson, N.J., native adds these selections to the multiple honors he has received since the end of the regular season, which includes Second Team All-ACC, NCBWA Freshman All-American (Second Team), Louisville Slugger All-American and All-ACC Academic. He led a cast of five freshmen - four of whom were Louisville Slugger All-Americans - on the VaSID teams, the most in the past decade and easily passing the previous high of three in 2005.

Also, over the last 10 years, the Hokies have had three different players named to the VaSID First Team as a catcher four times with Wyatt Torregas getting the nod in both 2003 and 2004 (as a sophomore and junior) and Steve Domecus, as a senior, earning the selection back in 2010. Zagunis is the first freshman Hokie named first team since Torregas was a first team DH back in 2002.

Horan hit 15 home runs during the 2012 season, bettered only by one person in the state on the DI-level - Richmond’s Chris Cowell (20), a second team selection as well. The MIddleboro, Mass., native led the Hokies in runs scored (45), RBI (41), home runs, slugging (.585), hit-by-pitch (12) and multi-RBI games (13) and was second in total bases (110), walks (27), on-base percentage (.400) and stolen bases (7). This is the rising redshirt-junior’s first postseason honor as a member of the Tech baseball program.

Graduating senior Jake Atwell, despite missing more than half the season due to injury, did enough to garner a second team Utility selection. Before his injury, the El Dorado, Ark., native was leading the ACC in on-base percentage and second in batting average. He finished with a .414 average with 26 runs and 19 RBI in 27 games. He also tossed 7.1 innings in 10 games and struck out five and earned a save.

The three overall selections for the Hokies was tied for the third-most in the state, and outside of 2010 when Tech had five honorees, it was the most since the 2004 postseason.

2012 University Division All-State Baseball

Player of the Year: Stephen Bruno, Virginia
Co-Pitchers of the Year: Eddie Butler, Radford and Matt Davenport, William and Mary
Rookie of the Year: Mark Zagunis, Virginia Tech
Coach of the Year: Brian O’Connor, Virginia*

First Base
1st Team - Michael Katz, William and Mary, Freshman
2nd Team - Alex Close, Liberty, Freshman

Second Base
1st Team - Bryan Aanderud, Liberty, Junior
2nd Team - Kevin Nutter, William and Mary, Junior

Shortstop
1st Team - Jeff Kemp, Radford, R-Junior
2nd Team - Chris Taylor, Virginia, Junior

Third Base
1st Team - Stephen Bruno, Virginia, R-Sophomore
2nd Team - Joey Cujas, VCU, Sophomore

Catcher
1st Team - Mark Zagunis, Virginia Tech, Freshman
2nd Team - Chris Cowell, Richmond, Senior

Outfield
1st Team - Bill Cullen, VCU, Sophomore
- Matt Hillsinger, Radford, Senior
- Ian Parmley, Liberty, Senior

2nd Team - Derek Fisher, Virginia, Freshman
- Tyler Horan, Virginia Tech, R-Sophomore
- Robby Newman, Longwood, Senior

Designated Hitter
1st Team - Zack Helgeson, George Mason, Senior
2nd Team - George Piccirilli, VMI, Senior

Utility
1st Team - Jacob Mayers, Richmond, Junior
2nd Team - Jake Atwell, Virginia Tech, Senior

Starting Pitchers
1st Team - Eddie Butler, Radford, Junior
- Matt Davenport, William and Mary, Senior
- John Niggli, Liberty, Senior

2nd Team - Chris Horne, NSU, Junior
- Branden Kline, Virginia, Junior
- Zak Sterling, Richmond, Freshman

Relief Pitchers
1st Team - Chris O'Grady, George Mason, R-Junior
- Justin Thompson, Virginia, Senior

2nd Team - Shane Halley, Virginia, Senior
- Blake Hauser, VCU, Junior

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Baseball).