Jackson, Miss. –The 2007 NAIA Region XIII All-Region Baseball Team as voted by the region’s coaches was announced on Monday evening and Auburn University Montgomery placed three players on the elite squad. Junior Paul Vasquez of Columbus, Ga., was selected at the catcher position, senior left hander Daniel Forrer of Montgomery, Ala., was named a starting pitcher and Junior Kelley, a senior from Whatley, Ala., was named the Region XIII Player of the Year at second base.

On the year, Kelley leads the AUM team in several offensive categories including batting average (.476), runs scored (65), hits (99), RBI (68), and slugging percentage (.736). He also established school records by running off a 33-game hitting streak and belting three doubles in a single game versus Columbus State. His 99 hits currently stand as the third most in a single season in school history, trailing only his own 109 hits last season and Pookie Wilson’s 112 hits in 1992. In 240 plate appearances this season, Kelley has struck out only three times and his fielding percentage stands at .961.

In only his second season at AUM following his transfer from Alabama Southern Community College, Kelley has etched his name into the Senators’ record book in several career statistics. His batting average stands at .444 and is on pace to set a new AUM career mark, he needs four more doubles to pass Wilson’s mark of 43 career doubles, his 208 hits are fourth most in program history, and his 20 homers and 127 RBI are both fifth best in a Senator career.

Vasquez has also been an invaluable player for Head Coach Q.V. Lowe in the 2007 season. Behind the plate, he has gunned down 19 base runners and committed just four errors with nine passed balls while starting 55 of the Senators 59 games played so far on the campaign. His offensive production has seen him set a new AUM record with 24 doubles and his .420 average ranks as the seventh best single season in school history. He is the Senators’ second leading hitter with 84 hits and trails only Kelley in RBI with 59.

Forrer (9-1) quickly established himself as a dominate pitcher in the Southern States Athletic Conference following his transfer to AUM from LSU during the off-season. His 1.88 ERA ranks as the third best season in program history and his 105 strike outs are the fifth best for a single season at AUM. Opposing batters have only hit for an average of .150 against him and in February he pitched a no-hitter at Brewton-Parker.

AUM (48-11) is currently ranked No. 4 by the NAIA and playing in the Region XIII Tournament at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson, Miss.