MARSHALL, MINN.: The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team has announced its four team award winners for the 2008 season.  The players selected the awards and the list was headed by junior second baseman Greg Laughlin, who was named the team's most valuable player.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Adam Schrader was named most valuable pitcher, while junior third baseman Josh Nolan was named the team's best defensive player.  The final award went to senior pitcher Brandon Wilhelmi, who earned the Mustang Award, which goes to a player who best exemplifies the character, spirit, dedication, hard work and enthusiasm for SMSU baseball.

Laughlin, a native of Eden Prairie, Minn., led the team with a .397 batting average with a team-high 60 base hits in 151 at bats.  A second team All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honoree this season, Laughlin also finished second on the team with 35 RBI and was third with 10 doubles. 

Schrader, a native of Easton, Minn., finished with a 4-5 record and a 4.76 ERA.  The team's No. 1 starter, he led SMSU with 11 starts while pitching a team-high 64.1 innings.  He also led the squad with 60 strikeouts and held opponent's to a .236 batting average against, the lowest by any Mustang starting pitcher. 

Nolan, a native of Rapid City, S.D., played in all 44 games while making 39 starts at third base.  He finished the season compiling a .928 fielding percentage with 96 assists, 20 putouts and just nine errors.  Nolan also finished second on the team with five home runs while also collecting six doubles and a team-high four triples.

Wilhelmi, a native of Clements, Minn., was named first team All-NSIC in 2008, finishing with a 4-0 record and a team-high four saves.  He led the team with 20 appearances and finished with a team-low 3.00 ERA in 30 innings pitched.  He struck out 23 batters and walked just nine while allowing opponents to hit just .261.

Southwest Minnesota State University is a member of NCAA Division II and is located in Marshall, Minn. SMSU finished the 2008 season 24-20 overall and finished fourth in the NSIC with a record of 14-12.