May 24, 2014 – Concordia University Chicago third baseman
Carlos Olavarria (Rosemont, IL/East Leyden) earned a second-team All-American honor as the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Rawlings announced their 2014 list of All-American and All-Region teams.
Olavarria, also named ABCA/Rawlings first-team All-Midwest Region, enjoyed an excellent first season with the Cougars after transferring from Aurora University. The junior earned the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Position Player of the Year honor, batting a stellar .398 in 46 games. Olavarria led the Cougars in hits (72) and doubles (20) and was second on CUC in runs scored (45) and stolen bases (25).
Senior pitcher
Dan Kluss (Niles, IL/Niles West) joined Olavarria as a first-team All-Midwest Region player. Kluss, the NACC Pitcher of the Year, went 6-2 with a 1.65 earned run average in 12 appearances (10 starts) this season. He pitched 71 innings and recorded 66 strikeouts, a mark that led both the team and the NACC. Kluss completed his collegiate career with a 23-5 record and 2.82 ERA in 236 innings (43 appearances).
Named to the ABCA/Rawlings second-team All-Midwest Region from the Cougars were relief pitcher
Steve Cox (Villa Park, IL/Willowbrook), first baseman
Kyle Huber (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech) and starting pitcher
Kurt Kempema (Schaumburg, IL/H.S.).Cox finished his career with streaks of 22 consecutive save opportunities converted and 37 appearances without allowing an earned run. This season, Cox was 2-0 with nine saves in 20 appearances. Opponents hit just .150 against the Cougars' season and career record holder in saves.
Huber hit .377 in 46 games for the Cougars. The number five batter in the CUC lineup, Huber drove in 41 runs. Twenty-three of his 66 hits went for extra bases as he recorded a slugging percentage of .560. Huber also led the team in fielding percentage with a .985 in 337 total chances.
Kempema emerged as a solid number two starter for the Cougars, going 6-1 with a 2.64 ERA in 12 appearances. The southpaw boasted one of the top ball-strike ratios on the team with 45 strikeouts against 13 walks in 64 2/3 innings.
