Friday, July 25, 2008

Valparaiso University’s Brett Bivens (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview H.S.), John Giusti (Coventry, R.I.), and Zach Rodeghero (New Lenox, Ill./Providence Catholic H.S.) have been named to the Horizon League’s Academic All-Conference Team in baseball.

Bivens, a sophomore infielder, hit .295 in a utility role while starting 43 games for the Crusaders.  He was named to the Horizon League’s All-Tournament Team after hitting .522 with 12 hits in Valpo’s five championship games.  Bivens recorded seven multi-RBI games on the year, and had 12 multi-hit contests to go along with a career-best 10 game hitting streak.

In the classroom, Bivens maintains a 3.56 grade point average while majoring in finance.

Giusti, a senior second baseman, earned Second Team All-Horizon League honors after hitting .355 on the season, including a sizzling .510 mark in conference action.  He returned from an injury to record a 10-game hitting streak and finished the year with 13 multi-hit contests.  Giusti set Valparaiso’s career assist record defensively with 435 assists over his four years.

Giusti carried a 3.35 grade point average majoring in sports management.

Rodeghero, a fifth-year senior outfielder, led the Horizon League and was among the top-15 nationally with a .418 batting average.  The first Crusader since 1982 to hit .400 in a season, Rodeghero was a First Team All-Horizon League selection while earning conference Player of the Week honors twice.  Rodeghero was also one of the final 64 nationally on the Wallace Watch for National Player of the Year accolades.

In the classroom, Rodeghero had a 3.24 grade point average while majoring in meteorology and mathematics.