Gustavus Adolphus College baseball players Tony Konicek (Sr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo) and Mike DesLauriers (So., Minnetonka, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret’s) have been named All-Midwest Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Konicek, a three-time All-MIAC selection and two-time MIAC Most Valuable Player, was named to the first team for the third time in his career, while DesLauriers picked up third team honors for the first time at shortstop.
Konicek, who made the transition from center field to the hot corner midway through the season, claimed the Max Molock MIAC Most Valuable Player award for the second straight season after hitting .535 in conference games and leading the MIAC with 38 hits and 38 RBI. He also added 25 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 12 walks, and posted a league-leading .986 slugging percentage in 20 MIAC games played. In 36 games overall this season, Konicek batted .452 with 56 hits, 15 doubles, five triples, and 10 home runs in 124 at-bats. He also scored 38 runs and drew a team-high 20 walks, including five (four intentional) against Hamline April 9.
A recipient of All-America honors from the ABCA and Midwest Region Position Player of the Year recognition from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association last season, Konicek finished as the Gustavus career leader in batting average (.440), hits (228), triples (12), RBI (178), and runs scored (135, tie) and is second all-time in home runs (31), doubles (53), and at-bats (518). Konicek is Gustavus’ single-season record-holder in at-bats (171 in 2004) and hits (74 in 2004) and has posted the top three marks for RBI (55 in 2007, 54 in 2004, and 48 in 2006).
DesLauriers finished second on the team in batting average (.415) while posting team-highs in hits (59), at-bats (142), runs scored (40), and stolen bases (9). He also led the team in fielding assists with 95, a mark that ranks third all-time for a single season at Gustavus. In 20 MIAC games, DesLauriers hit .402 with 33 hits and 26 runs scored, second in the league in each of the latter two categories while his 82 at-bats led the league. In addition, DesLauriers was the only Gustie named to the MIAC All-Tournament team. He hit 4-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored and committed only one error in 12 opportunities at shortstop during Gustavus’ two MIAC playoff games.
By being named to the All-Midwest Region First Team, Konicek advances to the national ballot for ABCA All-America honors, which will be released during the NCAA Division III Baseball World Series May 25-29 in Grand Chute, Wis.