2011 “Louisville Slugger’s” Freshmen All-American Baseball Team

FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
TUCSON, Ariz. — The 2011 Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American team, selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, features a wealth of baseball talent.

The team is headed by Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman Pitcher of The Year RHP Corey Knebel of Texas (17 saves, 1.23 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 12 walks in 51 1/3 innings) and Freshman Player of The Year OF Daniel Aldrich, College of Charleston (.347, 22 homers, 17 doubles and 73 RBI).

Here is a rundown on the 2011 Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-Americans.

Starting Pitchers

RHP Tyler Barnette, Charlotte – Named Rookie of The Year in the Atlantic 10, Barnette posted a 9-1 record, 1.96 ERA and fanned 56 batters with 22 walks over 87 1/3 innings in 15 starts.

RHP Adam Plutko, UCLA – A first team Pac-10 selection, Plutko was 7-4 with a 2.01 ERA, 92 strikeouts and 24 walks in 107 2/3 innings.

RHP Karsten Whitson, Florida – A member of the All-Freshmen team in the Southeastern Conference, Whitson was 8-0 with a 2.42 ERA, 77 strikeouts and 24 walks in 81 2/3 innings.

RHP Alex Gonzalez, Oral Roberts – Gonzalez was chosen Pitcher of The Year and Newcomer of The Year in the Summit League. He posted an 8-5 record with a 1.93 ERA and struck out 99 batters with 40 walks over 103 1/3 innings. He made 16 starts during the 2011 season.

RHP Scott Garner, Bethune-Cookman – Garner was named Pitcher of The Year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as well as a first team all-league pick and Rookie of The Year. Garner posted a 9-2 record, 2.07 ERA and struck out 48 batters with 18 walks over 78 1/3 innings in 13 starts.

RHP Justin Hageman, Western Kentucky – Named Freshman of The Year in the Sun Belt Conference, Hageman posted an 8-5 record, 3.22 ERA and struck out 85 batters with 30 walks over 100 2/3 innings. He made 15 starts this season and appeared in 18 games.

RHP Austin Kubitza, Rice – Kubitza was a first team Conference USA pick as well as Freshman of The Year in the league. He posted a 6-4 record, 2.33 ERA and fanned 93 batters with 21 walks over 92 2/3 innings over 14 starts.

RHP Zack Weiss, UCLA – Weiss was 5-3 with a 2.86 ERA, 53 strikeouts and 22 walks in 66 innings.

RHP Brandon McNitt, Stony Brook – A second team America East selection and Rookie of The Year in the league, McNitt was 7-3 with 3 saves, 2.03 ERA, 42 strikeouts and 18 walks in 79 2/3 innings.

RHP Chris Pike, Fordham – An Honorable Mention Atlantic 10 selection, Pike was 8-1 with 3 saves, 2.41 ERA, 70 strikeouts and 33 walks in 93 1/3 innings.

RHP Desmond Poulson, Brigham Young – Poulson was 6-0 with a 4.15 ERA. He fanned 49 batters with 21 walks over 15 appearances.

RHP Nick Petree, Missouri St. – A second team Missouri Valley selection, Petree was 9-2 with 2 saves, 2.81 ERA, 81 strikeouts and 27 walks in 96 innings.

RHP Tyler Moore, North Florida – An All-Freshman Atlantic Sun selection, Moore was 4-3 with a 3.29 ERA, 53 strikeouts and 28 walks in 59 2/3 innings.

RHP Shaun Coughlin, Maine – A second team America East pick, Coughlin was 3-1 with 2 saves, 2.44 ERA, 32 strikeouts and 11 walks in 51 2/3 innings.

LHP Dylan Stuart, U.C. Riverside – Named Freshman Pitcher of The Year in the Big West Conference, Stuart was 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA over 31.3 innings. He walked 11 and struck out 29.

LHP Nick Leiningen, Sacred Heart – A second team Northeast Conference pick and Rookie of The Year in the league, Leiningen posted a 7-4 record, 1 save and 4.46 ERA. He struck out 39 batters.

RHP Alex Facundus, Tulane – A member of the All-Freshmen team in Conference USA, Facundus was 8-2 with a 3.43 ERA. He fanned 23 batters in 39 1/3 innings.

LHP Dillon Overton, Oklahoma – An Honorable Mention Big 12 Conference pick, Overton was 8-4 with a 2.30 ERA in 74 1/3 innings. He struck out 59 and walked 33.

LHP Cole Swanson, San Diego St. – Swanson was a second team Mountain West pick and posted a 4-2 record with a 3.23 ERA. He fanned 61 batters with 32 walks in 78 innings.

LHP Joey DeNato, Indiana – A first team Big Ten selection, DeNato posted a 7-3 record, 2.80 ERA, 53 strikeouts and 31 walks over 64 1/3 innings.

Relief Pitchers

Corey Knebel, Texas – Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman Pitcher of The Year was a first team Louisville Slugger All-American and a first team Big 12 Conference selection as well as a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league. Knebel posted 17 saves, 3-2 record, 1.23 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 12 walks in 51 1/3 innings.

Andrew Mitchell, Texas Christian – Mitchell was 6-1 with 2 saves and a 2.84 ERA. He fanned 73 batters with 31 walks over 76 innings.

Stefan Crichton, Texas Christian – A second team Mountain West selection, Crichton was 6-3 with 5 saves, 1.98 ERA, 42 strikeouts and 10 walks over 50 innings.

Kolton Mahoney, Brigham Young – Mahoney was 3-2 with 4 saves and a 2.42 ERA. He fanned 21 batters over 22 1/3 innings.

Kyle Porter, California – Porter was 5-0 with 2 saves, 1.62 ERA, 52 strikeouts and 14 walks in 50 innings.

Andrew McGee, Monmouth – McGee was a first team Northeast Conference selection who posted a 5-3 record, 6 saves, 2.51 ERA and 35 strikeouts with 10 walks.

Barrett Astin, Arkansas – Astin was 5-2 with 3 saves and a 2.72 ERA. He struck out 57 batters with 20 walks over 59 2/3 innings.

Zack Hartman, UNLV – Hartman had a 5-2 record, 8 saves, 2.35 ERA, 29 strikeouts and 6 walks in 38 1/3 innings.

C.K. Irby, Samford – An All-Freshmen pick in the Southern Conference, Irby was 5-1 with a 2.48 ERA, 35 strikeouts, 15 walks in 36 1/3 innings.

Cale Elam, Wichita St. – A second team Missouri Valley selection, Elam was 4-1 with 5 saves, 1.23 ERA, 32 strikeouts, 18 walks in 44 innings.

Nolan Sanburn, Arkansas – Sanburn had 8 saves, 3.62 ERA, 35 strikeouts and 15 walks in 32 1/3 innings.

Chris Anderson, Jacksonville – A second team Atlantic Sun pick and a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Anderson was 4-2 with 11 saves, 3.78 ERA, 39 strikeouts and 33 walks in 50 innings.

Dylan Stuart, U.C. Riverside – Stuart posted a 1-1 record, 1.72 ERA, 29 strikeouts and 11 walks in 31 1/3 innings.

Jonathan Reich, Fordham – Reich was 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA, 15 strikeouts, 5 walks in 25 2/3 innings.

Tim Swatek, Fordham – A second team Atlantic 10 pick, Swatek was 2-1 with 6 saves, 1.85 ERA, 28 strikeouts, 6 walks in 34 innings.

Paul Paez, San Diego – Paez was 7-4 with a 3.64 ERA, 58 strikeouts and 25 walks in 71 2/3 innings.

Ryan Van Assche, Norfolk St. – Assche posted a 7-6 record, 3.47 ERA, 56 strikeouts and 32 walks in 80 1/3 innings.

Tyler Dray, Southern Illinois – Dray recorded 8 saves with a 3.41 ERA, 24 strikeouts and 12 walks in 29 innings.

Catchers

C/1B/DH Brad Zebedis, Presbyterian – Zebedis, a first team Big South Conference pick, had a remarkable season during his freshman campaign as he hit .425 with 13 homers, 23 doubles and 57 RBI. He only struck out 22 times in 212 at-bats and collected 90 hits.

Jared Bales, Southern Mississippi – Bales, an All-Freshmen Conference USA selection, hit .281 with 9 doubles, 2 home runs, and 20 RBI.

First Basemen

Brian Ragira, Stanford – Named Pac-10 Conference Freshman Player of The Year, Ragira hit .320 with 7 doubles, 5 triples, 4 homers, 43 RBI. He also was named to the Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 team.

Trey Mancini, Notre Dame – Named Rookie of The Year in the Big East Conference and a third team all-league selection, Mancini hit .323 with 15 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs and 34 RBI.

1B/OF Chris Marconcini, Duke – Marconcini hit .291 with 15 doubles, 6 triples, 4 home runs and 39 RBI. He also had 8 stolen bases.

Second Basemen

Shane Kennedy, North Florida – An All-Freshman pick in the Atlantic Sun Conference, Kennedy hit .324 with 10 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs and 24 RBI.

Troy Black, Maine – Black hit .363 with 8 doubles, 19 RBI and 7 stolen bases as a second team America East Conference selection.

JaCoby Jones, Louisiana St. – An All-Freshman pick in the Southeastern Conference, Jones hit .338 with 11 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs and 32 RBI. He also swiped 12 bases.

Jordan Hankins, Austin Peay – A second team Ohio Valley Conference pick and member of the All-Freshmen Ohio Valley team, Hankins hit .351 with 15 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs and 31 RBI.

Oscar Sanay, Cal. St. Bakersfield – Sanay hit .355 with 12 doubles, 1 triple and 34 RBI.

Sebastian Gomez, Elon – A second team Southern Conference pick and All-Freshmen Southern selection, Gomez hit .305 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 28 RBI. He also swiped 15 bases.

Third Basemen

Kris Bryant, San Diego – Named Co-Player of The Year in the West Coast Conference as well as Co-Freshman of The Year in the league as well as All-Freshman, Bryant hit .365 with 9 homers, 17 doubles and 36 RBI. He also swiped 18 bases.

D.J. Peterson, New Mexico – Peterson hit .317 with 32 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homers and 48 RBI.

Colin Moran, North Carolina – A first team Atlantic Coast Conference selection as well as Freshman of The Year in the league, Moran hit .343 with 9 homers, 19 doubles and 68 RBI. He also scored 43 runs and had 74 hits in 216 at-bats.

3B/1B Dominic Ficociello, Arkansas – A member of the All-Freshmen team in the Southeastern Conference, Ficociello hit .351 with 4 homers, 15 doubles and 49 RBI this season.

Erich Weiss, Texas – Weiss was a first team Big 12 Conference selection as well as Freshman of The Year in the league. He hit .368 with 4 homers, 11 doubles, 7 triples and 38 RBI. He also swiped 10 bases.

Alex Calbick, Maine – A second team America East pick, Calbick hit .280 with 9 doubles, 1 triple, 5 homers and 30 RBI.

Bryan Soloman, Eastern Kentucky – Named Rookie of The Year in the Ohio Valley Conference and a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Soloman hit .310 with 17 doubles, 9 home runs and 40 RBI.

Coty Blanchard, Jacksonville St. – A member of the All-Freshmen Ohio Valley team, Blanchard hit .335 with 16 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers and 32 RBI.

Dustin DeMuth, Indiana – A member of the All-Freshmen Big Ten squad, DeMuth hit .360 with 12 doubles, 2 triples and 23 RBI. He also had 18 stolen bases.

Kyle DeMerritt, Santa Clara – DeMerritt was a member of the All-Freshmen West Coast Conference team and hit .280 with 8 doubles, 27 RBI and 3 stolen bases.

Trey Nielsen, Utah – A second team Mountain West pick, Nielsen hit .318 with 17 doubles, 9 home runs and 41 RBI.

T.J. Bennett, Oral Roberts – A first team Summit League selection, Bennett hit .287 with 10 doubles and 3 homers with 24 RBI.

Shortstops

Luke Tendler, North Carolina A&T – A first team Mid-East Atlantic Conference pick, Tendler hit .380 with 20 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 53 RBI and swiped 7 of 8 bases.

Ryan Gebhardt, Louisiana Tech. – A second team Western Athletic Conference pick, Gebhardt hit .343 with 3 doubles, 23 RBI and 4 stolen bases.

Outfielders

Daniel Aldrich, College of Charleston – Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman Player of The Year, Aldrich was named Freshman of The Year in the Southern Conference and was a first team all-league pick. He hit .347 with 22 homers, 17 doubles and 73 RBI.

Kyle Wren, Georgia Tech. – A first team Atlantic Coast Conference pick, Wren hit .340 with 11 doubles, 7 triples, 1 home run, 32 RBI and 16 stolen bases.

Michael Lorenzen, Cal. St. Fullerton – A second team Big West selection and Freshman Player of The Year in the league, Lorenzen hit .342 with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 31 RBI and 19 stolen bases.

Johnny Field, Arizona – Field hit .299 with 15 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs, 32 RBI and 4 stolen bases.

Tony Kemp, Vanderbilt – Kemp was named Freshman of The Year in the Southeastern Conference and was a first team SEC pick as well as a member of the All-Freshmen team. He hit .335 with 8 doubles, 5 triples and knocked in 27 runs. Kemp also swiped 15 bases and played terrific defense.

Jaycob Brugman, Brigham Young – Named Freshmen of The Year in the Mountain West Conference and a first team all-league pick, Brugman hit .317 with 9 homers, 19 doubles, 5 triples and 49 RBI. He also swiped 13 of 15 bases.

Krey Bratsen, Texas A&M – A first team Big 12 pick, Bratsen hit .344 with 5 doubles, 3 triples, 34 RBI and 28 stolen bases.

Jonathan Davis, Central Arkansas – A second team Southland Conference choice and Freshman of The Year in the league, Davis hit .350 with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 30 RBI and 21 stolen bases.

C.T. Bradford, Mississippi St. – Bradford made the Southeastern Conference All-Freshmen team and hit .295 with 11 doubles, 29 RBI and swiped 10 bases over 220 at-bats.

Ryan Walker, Texas-Arlington – Walker hit .322 with 13 doubles, 37 RBI and 11 stolen bases.

Aaron Barbosa, Northeastern – A third team Colonial Conference pick who was Rookie of The Year in the league, Barbosa swiped 29 bases as he hit .335 with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run and 13 RBI.

Aaron Judge, Fresno St. – A first team Western Athletic Conference selection and Freshman of The Year in the league, Judge hit .358 with 12 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 30 RBI. He also had 11 stolen bases.

Michael O’Neill, Michigan – A second team Big Ten pick and All-Freshman selection in the league, O’Neill hit .307 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 29 RBI and 30 stolen bases.

Alex Bacon, North Florida – Named Freshman of The Year in the Atlantic Sun Conference, Bacon hit .352 with 18 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs and 42 RBI.

Bill Bereszniewicz, Binghamton – A member of the All-Rookie team in the America East Conference, Bereszniewicz hit .353 with 8 doubles and 17 RBI over 32 games.

Bill Cullen, Virginia Commonwealth – A second team Colonial Conference choice, Cullen hit .324 with 12 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run and 33 RBI. He also recorded 15 stolen bases.

Cody Smith, San Diego St. – A second team Mountain West Conference selection, Smith hit .311 with 11 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homers, 30 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

Turner Gill, Portland – A first team West Coast Conference pick, Gill hit .332 with 18 doubles, 3 home runs, and 33 RBI.

Tyson Weber, Southern Utah – A first team Summit League selection, Weber hit .333 with 13 doubles, 1 home run and 17 RBI.

Derrick Workman, Mercer – A member of the All-Freshmen team in the Atlantic Sun Conference, Workman hit .332 with 12 doubles, 9 home runs, 47 RBI and 11 stolen bases.

Devin Caldwell, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville – Caldwell hit .314 with 16 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 53 RBI and 5 stolen bases.

Forrest Brandt, Davidson – A member of the All-Freshmen team in the Southern Conference, Brandt hit .300 with 15 doubles, 1 home run, 21 RBI and 8 stolen bases.

Jared King, Kansas St. – A second team Big 12 pick, King hit .307 with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 8 home runs, 40 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

Mike Gerber, Creighton – A second team Missouri Valley Conference selection, Gerber hit .281 with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs, 23 RBI and 6 stolen bases.

Nick Crescenzo, Rider – A second team Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference choice and Rookie of The Year in the league, Crescenzo hit .355 with 6 doubles, 31 RBI and 7 stolen bases.

Pete Rajkovich, Centenary – A first team Summit League selection, Rajkovich hit .363 with 7 doubles, 18 RBI and 5 stolen bases.

Phillip Ervin, Samford – A second team Southern Conference pick, Ervin hit .371 with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 41 RBI and 7 stolen bases.

Riley Good, Texas-San Antonio – Good hit .337 with 15 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, 32 RBI and 16 stolen bases.

Taylor Cato, Navy – Named Rookie of The Year in the Patriot League, Cato hit .342 with 8 doubles and 14 RBI.

Designated Hitters

Phil Sorensen, Tennessee-Martin – A first team Ohio Valley Conference pick and a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Sorensen hit .340 with 4 homers, 15 doubles and 33 RBI.
Conrad Gregor, Vanderbilt – A second team Southeastern Conference pick, Gregor hit .344 with 8 doubles, 3 home runs and 30 RBI.

Jeff Zimmerman, Northern Illinois – Named Freshman of The Year in the Mid-American Conference, Zimmerman hit .326 with 13 doubles, 11 home runs and 47 RBI.

Joey Burney, Old Dominion – A member of the All-Rookie squad in the Colonial Conference, Burney hit .257 with 7 doubles, 8 home runs and 34 RBI.

Justin Glass, Cincinnati – A second team Big East Conference pick, Glass hit .326 with 14 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs and 45 RBI.

Kavin Keyes, Oregon St. – Keyes was a first team Pac-10 pick and hit .315 with 10 doubles, 1 homer and 30 RBI.

Ty McFarland, James Madison – A third team Colonial Conference pick and a member of the All-Rookie team, McFarland hit .278 with 14 doubles, 2 homers, 36 RBI and 5 stolen bases.

Multiple Position Athletes

Josh Dezse, Ohio St. – Named Freshman of The Year in the Big Ten, Dezse hit .332 with 4 homers, 11 doubles and 42 RBI. As a pitcher, he was 4-2 with 6 saves and fanned 32 batters over 27 2/3 innings as he appeared in 26 games.

Marco Gonzales, Gonzaga – Named Co-Player of The Year in the West Coast Conference as well as Co-Freshman of The Year in the league, Gonzales posted an 11-2 record with a 2.57 ERA. He fanned 90 batters and walked 21 over 105 innings. As a batter, he hit .291 with 10 doubles and 14 RBI.

David Paiz, Texas Tech. – A first team Big 12 pick and member of the All-Freshman Big 12 team, Paiz hit .284 with 13 doubles, 2 homers, 27 RBI, 3-5 pitching record, 1 save, 34 strikeouts and 17 walks in 50 2/3 innings.

Desmond Russell, Jackson St. – A second team Southwestern Athletic Conference pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Russell hit .310 with 13 doubles, 4 triples, 5 homers, 49 RBI, 10 SB, 4-6 pitching record, 4.52 ERA, 3 saves, 79 strikeouts, 32 walks in 81 2/3 innings.

Mike Ford, Princeton – A second team Ivy League selection and Rookie of The Year in the conference, Ford hit .300 with 9 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 31 RBI, 5-4 pitching record, 3.95 ERA, 38 strikeouts and 17 walks in 70 2/3 innings.