WALTHAM, Mass. - Four members of the Brandeis University baseball team have been selected to the University Athletic Association All-League team. Rookie left fielder Tony Deshler of Pepperell, Mass., earned first-team honors and was selected as the UAA Rookie of the Year. He was joined on the first team by sophomore second baseman John O'Brion of Portland, Maine. Junior 1B Nick Gallagher of Southboro, Mass., and sophomore catcher Artie Posch of Hopedale, Mass., were both second-team selections.
Deshler is the second-straight Judge to earn UAA Rookie of the Year honors, joining Posch. Deshler started all six games in the UAA tournament, batting .419 (13-31), second on the team and sixth in the Association. He tied for second in the UAA in hits with 13 and runs batted in with nine. He was also a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen-base attempts. Deshler's top performance came in a 10-7 win over the University of Rochester on March 11. In that contest, he went three-for-six with five RBI. Deshler drove in runs in four of his six plate appearances, including his first collegiate RBI on a ground out in the second inning and a two-run single in the fourth. He also had RBI singles in the sixth and ninth innings. He also went 3-4 at the top of the order with two runs scored and an RBI in an 11-0 win over Case Western Reserve University on March 13 and drove in what proved to be the game-winning run in a 10-7 win over Emory University on March 15.
O'Brion was the Judges' top power threat at the UAA championships. He batted .417 (10-24) with two doubles and two home runs to finish second in the league with a .750 slugging percentage and 18 total bases. O'Brion also came in third in the conference with seven runs scored. In the field, he turned in a league high four double plays. O'Brien's home runs included a three-run shot in a 12-2 win over Case on March 11. He also went deep in a 7-5 loss to Emory on March 12.
Gallagher, who made just five starts in two seasons prior to 2008, led Brandeis in hitting at .444 (8-18), fourth-best in the UAA. With two walks and a league-high four hit-by-pitches, Gallagher also led the conference in on-base percentage at .583. His top performance came in Brandeis's 10-7 win over Rochester, when he went 2-2 with two RBI, three runs scored and a sacrifice bunt. He also reached base twice after getting hit by a pitch. Gallagher's RBI on a suicide squeeze in Brandeis's four-run ninth inning proved to be the game-winning run. Gallagher was also 3-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in a 10-7 win over Emory.
Posch earned second-team honors at catcher as one of six different Brandeis players to bat over .300 in the tournament. He went 7-23 (.304) with five runs scored, hitting safely in five of the six games with two multi-hit games, including a 2-4 performance with two runs scored in the 11-0 win over Case.
Deshler is a 2007 graduate of Lawrence Academy. He is the son of Albert and Suzanne Deshler, Pepperell, Mass.
O'Brion is a 2006 graduate of Portland High School. He is the son of Martin and Debra O'Brion, Portland, Maine.
Gallagher is a 2005 graduate of St. John's High School. He is the son of Stephen and Melissa Gallagher, Southboro, Mass.
Posch is a 2007 graduate of Hopedale High School. He is the son of Arthur and Cathy Posch, Hopedale, Mass.