DATE: May 26, 2004

WILMINGTON, NC -- University of Delaware sophomore catcher Brian Valichka and junior designated hitter Kelly Buber were selected to the Colonial Athletic Association all-conference baseball team announced at the CAA Championship Banquet Tuesday night.

Valichka, a second-year transfer from Oklahoma State and a native of Frederick, MD (Urbana HS) was the lone Blue Hen player named to the first team while Buber, a first-year transfer from Yuba City (CA) Community College and a native of Yuba City, CA (Yuba City HS), was a second team selection. A total of 28 players were honored on the two teams as selected by the nine CAA baseball head coaches. Valichka becomes the first UD player to earn first team All-CAA honors since catcher John Schneider and outfielder Reid Gorecki were honored in 2002.

The Blue Hens (31-22) are the No. 6 seed in this week's CAA Tournament at UNC Wilmington and will play No. 4 seed William & Mary in a second round game Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The Hens knocked off top seed George Mason 8-5 in 10 innings in Wednesday's opener.

Valichka, the top defensive catcher in the CAA, was also one of the most improved hitters in the conference this season. After batting just . 168 with 12 runs batted in as a redshirt freshman in 2003, Valichka improved considerably this spring. During the regular season, he played in 47 games with 45 starts and was the Hens' third leading hitter with a .343 batting average. He has also hit 16 doubles, three triples, and seven home runs while knocking in 25 runs and stealing seven bases. Defensively, he has thrown out a CAA-leading 14 of 34 potential base-stealers.

Buber, who was an all-conference selection at Yuba City last season when he hit .382 with 38 RBI, has been outstanding in his first season with the Blue Hens in 2004. During the regular season, Buber was the Hens' second leading hitter with a .346 average while adding seven home runs and 48 RBI.

Each of the nine CAA teams had at least one player named to the first team. William & Mary sophomore outfielder Chris Rahl, who batted .400 with 20 home runs and 70 runs batted in during the regular season, was named the CAA Player of the Year while George Mason shortstop Jeff Palumbo was named Defensive Player of the Year, Virginia Commonwealth pitcher Harold Mozingo was named Rookie of the Year, and George Mason head coach Bill Brown was named Coach of the Year.

Earning first team CAA honors for the second straight year were James Madison junior outfielder Mike Butia (.373, 18 HR, 60 RBI) and Old Dominion starting pitcher Justin Verlander (7-5, 3.19 ERA).

AGATE:

1st Team All-Colonial Athletic Association:

C - Brian Valichka (Delaware); 1B: Chris Looze (GM); 2B: Will Rhymes (WM); SS: Jeff Palumbo (GM); 3B: Anthony Granato (VCU); OF: Chris Rahl (WM), Chip Grawey (UNCW), Mike Butia (JMU); DH: Casper Wells (TOW); UT: Mike Walsh (HOF); SP: Stacen Grant (GMU), Justin Verlander (ODU); RP: Blake Cross (UNCW).

2nd Team All-Colonial Athletic Association:

C - Neal Eichorn (UNCW); 1B: Matt Sutton (UNCW); 2B: Ricky Caputo (HOF); SS: Aaron Smith (UNCW); 3B: Nick Shimer (GMU); OF: Steve Harris (ODU); Adam Heffron (TOW); Adam Innerst (GMU); DH - Kelly Buber (Delaware); UT: Jonathan Batts (UNCW); SP: Donnie Smith (ODU), Justin Orenduff (VCU); RP - Cla Meredith (VCU), Bill Bray (WM).

CAA Player of the Year: OF Chris Rahl (William & Mary)
CAA Defensive Player of the Year: SS Jeff Palumbo (George Mason)
CAA Rookie of the Year: RHP Harold Mozingo (Virginia Commonwealth)
CAA Coach of the Year: Bill Brown (George Mason)