Player: Gar Keen
Position: Second baseman
Year: Junior
School: Heidelberg
Though we are recognizing the best individual talents amongst the Ohio Division III baseball teams, baseball is a team game, and every player would undoubtedly exchange personally glory for team success. At least the head coaches of the 21 DIII schools hope.
However often times the premiere teams are spearheaded by elite individual talent. The best of the professional ranks, Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant, and Alex Rodriguez, all have won at the highest level to solidify their legacies. In Heidelberg second baseman Gar Keen, we highlight an incredible talent, but perhaps more importantly a winner at incredible pace.
In terms of success you could say Gar Keen is batting 1.000. Going into his junior season, already under the belt of the Sparta Highland product is two-for-two with Ohio Athletic Conference championships, two-for-two again OAC tournament championships, and you can probably guess now two-for-two with a pair of first-team All-OAC selections at second base. Those are honors and achievements it would take some programs 25 years to accomplish, let a lone a player in his first two seasons.
Paying immediate dividends for the Matt Palm led Heidelberg Student Princes, few have risen to the level of excellence Keen maintains at such a rapid pace.
As a freshman the 5’10,185 switch-hitter finished with 64 hits in 194 at-bats for a .330 batting average. Included in the 64 hits were 13 doubles, four triples and a home run. Keen tallied 30 runs scored while driving in 45, posting a slugging percentage of .454 from the 88 total bases, and an on-base pecentage of .360, drawing eight walks, being hit by five pitches, striking out 15 times.
Going seven-for-seven in stolen bases, turning 33 double plays, and finishing with a fielding percentage of .950, Keen immediately established himself as a well-rounded player, being reward with a first-team All-OAC selection. Keen also received All-OAC Tournament Team honors, as Heidelberg captured their first postseason crown since 2004.
Following up such a successful season increases the likelihood of a sophomore slump, even with another productive season Keen established a pretty high bar to match. Keen had no problem matching his performance, in fact he eclipsed his 2008 season with record-setting production.
For the 37-9 Student Princes, Keen started all 46 games in 2009. In 191 at-bats, Keen collected 72 hits, batting for a .377 average. Finishing with 17 doubles that tied for the team lead, two doubles, and a team leading eight home runs, Keen finished with 61 RBI, a single-season record for the Orange, Black, and Red.
With the 117 total bases, Keen slugged .613 and scored 48 runs. With 18 walks and eight pitches hitting him, against 14 strikeouts an on-base percentage of .441 was posted. The 1.054 OPS at the plate was supplemented with a 21-for-28 effort in stealing bases. In the field the performance improved as well. Cutting his errors exactly in half, in 215 chances, Keen committed just five errors for a .977 fielding percentage.
Cementing his case as the OAC’s premier second baseman, Keen was honored with his second All-OAC first-team selection. The praise from coaches extended beyond the conference as the American Baseball Coaches Association tabbed Keen to their first-team All-Mideast Region team.
The awards didn’t stop there. The ABCA would further honor Keen as a Rawlings-ABCA All American in selecting Keen to their third team. D3Baseball.com named Keen honorable mention All-America.
As Heidelberg looks to capture its third consecutive OAC title in reaching NCAA postseason play for the programs fourth time, and third time consecutively, Keen will be the offensive force that carries the team. Already having received nearly every individual award possible just halfway through his collegiate career, individual success will no longer be the barometer to Keen’s ability. To further establish his legacy, as he enters 2010 as one of the country’s best, team success and carrying Heidelberg to the next step is needed.
Filed under: Division III
Gar is truly a fine baseball player and has earned all of the accolades that have come his way. Jason Lash and Gar Keene are not only teammates on the field but best of friends and roommates off the field. This Heidelberg team is truly blessed with not only many good athletes but many fine young men who are not only a credit to their team but a credit to their parents as well. Go Berg.