INDIANAPOLIS --- Tusculum College second baseman Maikol Gonzalez is the 2008 NCAA Division II national statistical champion for batting average according to the final baseball statistics.

Gonzalez, a native of Maraca Ibo, Venezuela, batted a school and South Atlantic Conference record .468 this season, which was .0004399 percentage points better than second place Jamie Nilsen of Central Washington.

The Pioneers also claimed national statistical championship honors for triples in a season as Tusculum accounted for 34 this season, four ahead of second place Central Oklahoma and Indiana (Pa.), who amassed 30 triples each.

This marks the second straight year Gonzalez and the Pioneers have earned national champion honors for statistics. In 2007, Gonzalez and Tusculum led the nation in triples per game.

TC finished second in the country in triples per game this season, averaging 0.61 per outing. Tusculum also finished 2008 nationally in: seventh in sacrifice flies (37), 10th in earned run average (3.40), 13th in hits allowed per nine innings pitched (8.73), 16th in won-lost percentage (.732), 27th in walks (239), 28th in stolen bases (97), 36th in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (7.5), 37th in runs scored (436), 39th in stolen bases per game (1.73), 42nd in scoring (7.8 rpg) and 42nd in hits (606).

The Pioneers were also listed in several individual categories including: Gonzalez who was first in batting average, sixth in hits (103), 12th in triples (7), 16th in on-base percentage (.527), 20th in stolen bases (30), 27th in stolen bases per game (0.54), 29th in total bases (153), 29th in doubles (21), 29th in triples per game (0.13), 37th in runs per game (1.23) and 33rd in runs scored (69). The 2008 consensus All-American established a new TC and SAC single-season record with his 103 hits, while also breaking the school mark with 30 stolen bases.

Two-time All-American catcher Christian Rosa (Toa Boa, Puerto Rico) is also mentioned in several categories including: 12th in runs per game (1.35), 12th in triples (7), 18th in runs scored (73 - TC record), 26th in triples per game (0.13), 45th in slugging percentage (.715) and 50th in on-base percentage (.502).

Carlos Rivera (Leesburg, Va.), a 2007 All-America outfielder, finished ranked in the following: 12th in triples (7), 27th in triples per game (0.13), 29th in runs per game (1.25 rpg), 33rd in runs scored (69), 40th in sacrifice flies (6), 41st in hits (89) and 49th in toughest to strike out (16.2).

Tusculum junior pitcher Boo Morrow (Lexington, Ky.) wrapped up his All-America campaign with a 2.00 earned run average, which was 19th best in the nation.

Gonzalez, who was named the Daktronics Division II South Region Player of the Year for a second straight time, was selected in the 35th round by the Colorado Rockies last week in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

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