Perkins graduate Kyle Hallock, along with teammate Kyle McMillen (North Canton) garnered Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I Third Team All-America selection as members of the No. 24 ranked Kent State.

"It’s a tribute to what they’ve been able to accomplish, not only this season, but their entire careers," MAC Coach of the Year Scott Stricklin. "They’re very hard workers and guys that came in as freshmen and paid their dues. They worked their way into their roles and both have had phenomenal seasons."

The duo is mentored by 14th-year associate head coach Mike Birkbeck, who has helped tutor a pitching staff that ranks sixth in the country with a team earned run average of 2.56 and helped lead Kent State to a 43-15 record, MAC regular season and tournament titles and the 12th NCAA Championship berth in program history in 2011.

A 2010 MLB Draft selection of the Philadelphia Phillies, Hallock has posted a MAC-best 10 wins, which ties him for 17th in the nation and second on the school’s single-season records list. The team captain anchors a Kent State pitching staff that leads the conference and is sixth in the country with a 2.56 team ERA. Hallock has struck out 83 while allowing just 21 earned runs over 99.0 innings and 15 starts and his ERA o 1.91 ranks 30th in the country.

He ranks second in school history with 232 career strikeouts, third with 289.2 innings pitched and tied for seventh with 22 career victories.

"This is one of the goals I had when I came to college," Hallock said. "It’s very gratifying, and it’s big deal for me and my family, but the team goals come first. When you win, individual honors come, and that’s what this is the result of."