BOCA RATON, Fla. --- Tusculum College second baseman Maikol Gonzalez has been named to the 2008 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings Division II All-America Second Team announced officials Tuesday.

Gonzalez, a senior from Maraca Ibo, Venezuela, earns All-America distinction for a second straight year. He earned All-America honors in 2007 by Daktronics (sports information directors) and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).

He becomes only the second Tusculum baseball player in school history to earn All-America accolades in multiple seasons. Chad Busch was the first, garnering All-America distinction in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Gonzalez established a new school record by hitting .468 this year, surpassing the previous best by Julio Velazquez in the 1994 campaign (.467). Gonzalez also broke the TC and South Atlantic Conference single-season record with his 103 hits this year. For his efforts, he was named the Daktronics South Region Player of the Year for a second straight season.

The two-time All-SAC First Team honoree accounted for 21 doubles, seven triples, five home runs and a team-best 58 RBI. His 30 stolen bases in 2008 were also a new school record.

During his two-year career, Gonzalez established new TC record for batting average (.457), triples (21) and on-base percentage (.522). His batting average is currently ninth all-time in NCAA II history, while his triples tally is tied for 12th in the record book.

Earlier this month, he was named to the All-South Region teams by Daktronics, ABCA and NCBWA.

The Pioneers posted a 41-15 record in 2008 and are currently ranked 30th in the nation. Tusculum advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year and the fourth time in the last six seasons. The Pioneers earned their way into the national postseason by winning the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament.

- TC -

2008 ABCA/Rawlings Division II Baseball All-America Team
First Team
1B-Chad Jacobsen, USC Aiken
2B-Chas Anthony, Erskine
3B-Rodney Rutherford, Columbus State
SS-Randall Clay, SE Oklahoma State
INF-Rob Flanigan, North Georgia
OF-David Thomas, Catawba
OF-Gabe MacDougal, Lynn
OF-Mike Elkerson, Abilene Christian
C-Keith Hernandez, Emporia State
DH-Tyler Carroll, Central Oklahoma
SP-Nick Schumacher, Wayne State (Neb.)
SP-Korey Noles, Columbus State
SP-Matt Means, Sonoma State
SP-Anthony Bass, Wayne State (Mich.)
RP-Anthony Perez, Tampa

Second Team
1B-Bryan Cook, Nova Southeastern
2B-Maikol Gonzalez, Tusculum
3B-Greyson Schram, Concord
SS-Jason Morales, UNC Pembroke
INF-Scott Savastano, Franklin Pierce
OF-Jerry Sands, Catawba
OF-John Long, Southern Arkansas
OF-Eric Shortell, Emporia State
OF-Jake Palmer, Metro State
C-Konrad Thieme, Sonoma State
DH-Matt Miller, Mesa State
SP-Steve Smith, Ouachita Baptist
SP-Jim Fuller, Southern Connecticut State
SP-Brett Hontz, Carson-Newman
SP-Marquis Fleming, CSU Stanislaus
RP-Chris Matlock, Central Missouri State

Third Team
1B-Ian Bridges, Sonoma State
1B-Ben Minard, Ashland
2B-Clay Sartain, Delta State
3B-Rob Dahlberg, West Alabama
SS-Mike Provenchar, Mesa State
INF-Adam Kampsen, Northern State
INF-Dirk Webb, Shepherd
OF-Karl Derbacher, Southern Connecticut Sta