Nearly a month before the first pitch is thrown on the 2004 baseball season, Eastern received positive news as two Panthers were named to the Baseball America Preseason Ohio Valley Conference team.

Eastern seniors Chris Uhle and Kyle Haines were selected to the 12 player OVC squad named on Jan. 28, by the national publication.

Judging by last season’s statistics both Panthers were very deserving. Uhle, playing a majority of the season at second base, hit .329 last season with 76 hits, 63 runs scored and 37 runs batted in.

Uhle has been a key part of the Panthers since his freshman year in 2001. As a true freshman, the Morton Grove native played in 25 games starting 12 with a batting average of .279. Uhle made most of his damage during a nine-game stretch in the starting lineup that saw him go 10-of-24 including two hits and two runs scored in consecutive games at Austin Peay and Northern Illinois.

Uhle avoided a sophomore slump by batting .277 with four home runs and 12 runs batted in over 49 games.

Haines, a junior college transfer from Olney Central, held down the shortstop position while batting .340 with 72 hits, 49 runs scored and 47 runs batted in. While at Olney, Haines hit .398 with 12 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 40 runs batted in. He had a .914 fielding percentage and made solid contact at the plate, striking out just 12 times in 166 at bats.

Both players made an impact on the bases with Uhle perfect on 13 attempts and Haines able to swipe eight bases on 10 tries.

Austin Peay led the all-conference team with four selections as junior first baseman Chris Hyde, senior outfielder Ron Bethke and senior pitchers Jeff Mault and Devin Thomas all were honored.

Eastern Kentucky also had two players selected with senior third baseman Neil Sellers and senior outfielder Stephen Carter on the team. Sellers was selected by the publication as the league’s preseason player of the year and top OVC prospect.