Central Islip, NY - The honors keep pouring in
for Gabriel Duran as he was named the 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division
II National Pitcher of the Year on Friday. He also becomes the
second player in Dowling history to be named an All-American.
In his sophomore year as a Golden Lion, Duran, the
ECC Pitcher of the Year, Daktronics East Region Pitcher of the
Year, ABCA East Region Pitcher of the Year, and First Team
All-Conference selection, led the Dowling pitching staff this year,
compiling an impressive 9-1 record and a save during the regular
season. The Brooklyn, NY native currently ranks fourth in the
nation (1.45) and leads the nation in hits allowed per 9 innings
(3.71). Duran has tallied 79 strikeouts and held
his opponents to a .154 batting average in 80.2 innings. The
righthander also threw a no-hitter in his first start of the season
against Felician College, striking out 14 batters in the
process.
Duran also earns Daktronics First Team
All-American honors, becoming the second player in program history
to earn such a distinction. Chris Caputo, a 2007 National
Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Honorable Mention
All-American at designated hitter, is the only other Golden Lion to
earn All-American recognition.
Duran will look to extend his phenomenal season by
trying to help Dowling capture the National Championship at this
weeks NCAA Division II College World Series. Duran and the Golden
Lions will begin tournament play when they take on No. 1 ranked UC
San Diego on May, 24 in Cary, North Carolina.
Daktronics All-American Team
National Player of the Year - Matt Adams, C, Sr., Slippery
Rock
National Pitcher of the Year - Gabriel Duran, RHP, So.,
Dowling
First Team
| Pos | Name | Yr | School |
| SP | Gabriel Duran | So | Dowling |
| SP | Chris Armijo | Sr | Incarnate Word |
| SP | Dan Wright | Jr | Lynn |
| SP | Hayden Simpson | So | Souther Arkansas |
| RP | Chris Matlock | Sr | Central Missouri |
| C | Chris Matlock | Sr | Slippery Rock |
| 1B | Jon Aija | Sr | Cal State Dominguez Hills |
| 2B | Cannon Lester | Jr | Southern Arkansas |
| 3B | Yan Gomes | Jr | Barry |
| SS | Matt Bodenchuk | Sr | Mesa State |
| OF | Jason Forbes | Sr | Colorado State - Pueblo |
| OF | Brandon Decker | Jr | Valdosta State |
| OF | Adam Darby | Sr | Harding |
| DH | Travis Howard | Sr | USC Aiken |
| UT | Matt Costello | Jr | Valdosta State |
Second Team
| Pos | Name | School |
| SP | Gary Moran | Sonoma State |
| SP | Kyle Vazquez | Franklin Pierce |
| SP | Blake Keitzman | Western Oregon |
| SP | Tom Cote | Franklin Pierce |
| RP | Shaun Larsen | Southern Indiana |
| C | Jordan Schmitt | Abilene Christian |
| 1B | Zack Solly | Fairmont State |
| 2B | Kevin Becker | Mesa State |
| 3B | Craig Lyerly | Catawba |
| SS | Rich Racobaldo | Mount Olive |
| OF | Eric Workman | West Virginia State |
| OF | Matt Cotellese | West Chester |
| OF | J.D. Martinez | Nova Southeastern |
| DH | Keith Towne | Angelo State |
| UT | Chris Adamson | Angelo State |
Third Team
| Pos | Name | School |
| SP | Ben Watkins | Pittsburgh - Johnstown |
| SP | Darin Gorski | Kutztown |
| SP | Cody Walden | Armstrong Atlantic State |
| SP | Charley Short | Barry |
| RP | Brandon Graves | Valdosta State |
| C | Ryan Query | Catawba |
| 1B | Rob Dahlberg | West Alabama |
| 2B | Drew Cross | St. Edwards |
| 3B | Jacob Petkac | Ashland |
| SS | Nick Shaw | Barry |
| OF | Jeff Foltz | Ashland |
| OF | Chance Tuttle | Central Missouri |
| OF | Bryan Fogle | Erksine |
| DH | Douglas Toro | Lynn |
| UT | Donovan Huffer | Concord |
Honorable Mention:
Vane Albitz, California, San Diego; Thomas Bumpass,
Abilene Christian; Jason Carr, New Mexico Highlands; Matt Costello,
Valdosta State; Sam DiMatteo, California (PA); Mike Dowd, Franklin
Pierce; Kenny Elkind, Angelo State; Nick Fogleman, Pfeiffer; Jerome
Johnson, Eastern New Mexico; Mark Letchworth, Wingate; Carlos
Leyva, Cal State Dominguez Hills; Ben Minard, Ashland; Justin
Moore, Dominican; Jake Schmidt, Concordia (MN); Tim Shibuya,
California, San Diego; Michael Thompson, Bellarmine; Willie Uechi,
Abilene Christian; Derek West, Southwest Minnesota State
