UTSA’s Michael Rockett (Courtesy of Southland.org)
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
FRISCO, Texas – UTSA senior Michael Rockett, the 2008 Southland Conference Baseball Player of the Year, highlights a talented list of players on the 2009 preseason all-conference teams, the league office announced Wednesday in conjunction with the release of the preseason polls.
A native of Sugar Land, Texas, Rockett led a powerful UTSA lineup to its second consecutive regular-season title in 2008. A 2008 second-team All-American, Rockett was the first conference player of the year at UTSA since 2002. A constant threat at the plate, Rockett pounded out a .360 batting average, which ranked ninth in the conference. He also finished third in the league in hits (89) and runs batted in (68).
Joining Rockett on the preseason teams are 2008 conference award winners Paul Goldschmidt of Texas State, Stephen Flora of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and Michael Choice of UT Arlington.
Goldschmidt, the 2008 Southland Hitter of the Year, is the first Bobcat to claim the league’s top batting honor since 1992. He belted out a league-best 17 home runs and second-place totals in RBI (69), slugging percentage (.689) and total bases (157). A native of The Woodlands, Texas, he finished the year with a .360 batting average, which ranked 10th in the league. He tied for fifth with 20 doubles.
Flora, an Austin, Texas, native, was the 2008 newcomer of the year after a stellar season behind the plate at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. An anchor in the lineup for the Islanders, Flora’s .380 batting average tied for the top spot in the league. In addition to his 73 hits and 108 total bases, his .563 slugging percentage and .433 on-base percentage ranked 13th.
Choice, the league’s freshman of the year, ranked third in the league last season with a .378 batting average. A Mansfield, Texas, native, Choice started 50 games for the Mavs and led the team in homeruns (seven), RBI (51) and total bases (110).
Texas State leads all teams with five preseason all-conference honorees, including three first-team members. UTSA had four players earn preseason all-conference recognition, while Sam Houston State, Northwestern State and Lamar each had three selections.
Players who earned first- and second-team all-conference honors following the 2008 season automatically receive preseason honors. Third-team postseason selections move into vacated positions on the first and second preseason teams. The remaining spots are voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
2009 Preseason All-Southland Conference Baseball Teams
FIRST TEAM
1B
Paul Goldschmidt*
Texas State
Jr.
The Woodlands, Texas
2B
Adam Witek*
Texas State
Sr.
Schertz, Texas
3B
Seth Hammock*
Sam Houston State
Sr.
Corpus Christi, Texas
SS
Ty Summerlin*
Southeastern Louisiana
Sr.
Vancleave, Miss.
C
Stephen Flora*
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Sr.
Austin, Texas
DH
Justin O’Neal*
Northwestern State
Sr.
Ruston, La.
OF
Michael Rockett*
UTSA
Sr.
Sugarland, Texas
OF
Michael Choice*
UT Arlington
So.
Mansfield, Texas
OF
Tyler Link*
Lamar
Sr.
Houston, Texas
P
Zach Tritz*
Texas State
Sr.
Spring, Texas
P
Zach Calhoon*
UTSA
Jr.
Spring, Texas
P
Jimmy Heard*
Northwestern State
Sr.
Bossier City, Texas
SECOND TEAM
1B
Trey Hernandez
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
So.
Robstown, Texas
2B
Josh Huffman*
Central Arkansas
Sr.
Carrollton, Texas
3B
Lance Loftin*
Texas State
Sr.
Spring, Texas
SS
Shon Landry
McNeese State
Sr.
Orange, Texas
C
Taylor Freeman*
McNeese State
Jr.
Carney, Okla.
DH
Chase Lyles**
Northwestern State
Jr.
Plain Dealing, La.
DH
Chris Dunkin**
Lamar
Sr.
LaPorte, Texas
OF
Steven Tucker
Lamar
Sr.
Grand Prairie, Texas
OF
Aaron Powell
UTSA
Sr.
Midland, Texas
OF
Laurn Randell
Texas State
Jr.
Austin, Texas
P
Dallas Gallant
Sam Houston State
So.
Trinity, Texas
P
Ryan Collins
Southeastern Louisiana
Sr.
Chalmette, La.
P
Ryan Proudfoot
UTSA
Jr.
Lindale, Texas
* Indicates automatic selection as 2008 all-conference selection
** An extra second-team DH was selected based on tie in voting process.
– www.Southland.org –
