University of Evansville Athletics

The 2009 baseball season at the University of Evansville is dedicated to injured senior first baseman Derek Melton.

Melton suffered a neck injury in a swimming accident this past August while playing summer league baseball for the La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League.  The injury required neck surgery, and Melton will remain in his hometown of Trenton, Ohio this spring to work on his rehabilitation.

Melton was a mainstay in the UE lineup last year in his first season as a Purple Ace after transferring from Wabash Valley Community College.  Melton earned honorable mention all-Missouri Valley Conference honors last spring at DH, after hitting .287 with a team-high five home runs and 25 RBI. 

Melton was in the midst of an outstanding summer season prior to his injury, as he ranked third in the wooden-bat Northwoods League in home runs (eight) and second in RBI (45) at the time of his injury, while hitting .314.  Melton started at first base in the Northwoods League all-star game this past summer, and was named La Crosse’s Most Valuable Player after leading the team in all three Triple Crown categories.