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6/4/2009 - BASEBALL
Freshmen Land on the Louisville Slugger All-America Team
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TUCSON, Ariz. - A-Sun Freshman of the Year, Belmont's Dylan Craig, Mercer's Jacob Tanis, Stetson's Nick Rickles and Mark Jones and ETSU's Bo Reeder all garnered spots on the 2009 Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American team.
Craig is the second Bruin to ever receive this honor as senior Derek Wiley was also named to the Freshman All-American Team in 2006. Craig capped off his season by being named to the 2009 Atlantic Sun All-Tournament Team on May 24.
The Biology major was also named the A-Sun Freshman of the Year on May 20. Craig finished the season sixth in the A-Sun in batting average at .397 and first in hits with 92, which set the Belmont all-time record for hits in a season. Furthermore, he leads the conference in triples with nine, which is also tied for the school-record for the most in a season.
ETSU's Reeder joins first baseman Paul Hoilman as the only two Buccaneers to receive Freshman All-American Team recognition in the schools history. Reeder had many outstanding accomplishments in his freshman campaign including defeating Virginia Tech is his very first start on the mound, hitting for the cycle, throwing a complete game victory, and tying the freshman home run record set by Derek Trent (Kingsport, Tenn.) in 2008. The freshman led the team in hits (76), doubles (21), triples (3), total bases (148), and complete games (1). Reeder also hit an outstanding .339 while scoring 50 runs and driving in 54.
Tanis is the second Mercer Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in as many years, as sophomore leftfielder Joe Winker landed a spot on the team in 2008.
Tanis made an immediate impact on the team in 2009, leading the team in home runs (11) while starting 42 of Mercer's 46 games at the hot corner. Tanis made a good first impression in his Claude Smith Field debut, blasting two home runs and driving in four RBI in a 9-5 loss against Georgia State. Tanis ended the season with a .340 batting average, tied for third on the team. His .642 slugging percentage and .448 on-base percentage each ranked second on the squad while his 30 free passes led the team.
Stetson's Jones is third on the team in hitting (.360) and second in hits (80). He has not dipped below .340 the entire season. Rickles, the team’s starting catcher has played in all 56 games this season. He is second among A-Sun catchers in runners thrown out stealing (19).
The award is chosen by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
