Oklahoma State University Athletics
Five Cowboys Receive All-Big 12 Baseball Plaudits
May 23, 2000 | Cowboy Baseball
May 23, 2000
STILLWATER, Okla. - Senior outfielder Carlos Gautreaux headlined a group of five Cowboys that received All-Big 12 baseball honors in a vote by the conference head coaches.
Gautreaux was OSU's lone representative on the first team, and he was joined by pitchers Matt Smith and Josh Merrigan, both of whom received second team plaudits, and shortstop Nebasett Brown and Ryan Budde who earned honorable mention recognition.
Gautreaux finished the season as the Big 12's batting average champion with a .400 mark. The Abbeville, La., native also led the Cowboys with 20 doubles and 78 hits. He is being considered for GTE Academic All-America status as well as a National Collegiate Baseball Writers All-American candidate.
Smith received the All-Big 12 award for the third straight season and finished the season as the Cowboys all-time strikeout king with 348. The Henderson, Nev., native was 8-7 with a 3.36 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 99 innings. He is considered a potential high draft choice in next month's amateur baseball draft.
Merrigan, in his first season with the Cowboys, tied Smith for the team lead in wins with eight. He finished the season with an 8-2 ledger and a 2.91 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 89.2 innings.
Brown, a sophomore, led the Pokes with seven triples and 43 walks to go along with a .328 batting average and 43 RBIs in his first season at OSU.
Budde, who was invited to to the USA National Team Trials, finished second on the team with 48 RBIs and belted a career-high nine home runs in his sophomore campaign.
2000 All-Big 12 Conference Baseball Team
(As Selected by Conference Head Coaches)
First Team
1B-Dan Johnson, Nebraska, 6-2, 210, Jr., Coon Rapids, Minn..
2B-Tommy Nicholson, Texas, 5-9, 160, Jr., Anaheim, Calif.
SS-Ryan Stegall, Missouri, 6-1, 188, So., Liberty, Mo.
3B-Jason Bartlett, Oklahoma, 6-0, 170, Jr., Lodi, Calif.
Utility-Todd West, Texas, 5-11, 170, Jr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.
C-Justin Cowan, Nebraska, 5-8, 190, Jr., Tumwater, Wash.
OF-Aaron Runk, Iowa State, 5-11, 185, Sr., Stillwater, Minn.
OF-Carlos Gautreaux, Oklahoma State, 5-8, 175, Sr., Abbeville, La.
OF-Ben Emond, Texas, 6-0, 180, Sr., Farnham, Quebec, Canada
OF-Jeff Bajenaru, Oklahoma, 6-1, 190, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
DH-Matt Hopper, Nebraska, 6-4, 195, Fr., Morrison, Colo.
Starting Pitchers-Chad Hawkins, Baylor, 6-7, 215, Jr., Grapevine, Texas,
Kyle Evans, Baylor, 6-3, 187. Jr., Albuquerque, N.M., Shane Komine,
Nebraska, 5-10, 165, So., Honolulu, Hawai,i, Beau Hale, Texas, 6-1, 205, Jr., Mauriceville, Texas
Relief Pitchers-Zane Carlson, Baylor, 5-10, 160, Fr., Dallas, Texas, Charlie
Thames, Texas, 6-1, 185, Jr., Humble, Texas
Player of the Year-Shane Komine, Nebraska
Coach of the Year-Steve Smith, Baylor
Newcomer Player of the Year-Dan Johnson, 1B, Nebraska
Newcomer Pitcher of Year--Charlie Thames, Texas
Freshman Player of the Year-Matt Hopper, DH, Nebraska
Freshman Pitcher of the Year-Zane Carlson, Baylor
Second Team
1B-(tie) Mark English, Kansas State, 6-2, 175, Jr., Roeland Park, Kan., Rick
Park, Oklahoma, 6-4, 215, Sr., Norman, Okla.
2B-Preston Underdown, Baylor, 5-11, 180, Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.
SS-Tommy Whiteman, Oklahoma, 6-3, 175, So., Midwest City, Okla.
3B-Ryan Klocksien, Kansas, 6-2, 195, So., Shorewood, Minn.
UT-Jace Brewer, Baylor, 6-0, 170, So., Washington, Okla.
C-Kelly Shoppach, Baylor, 5-11, 190, So., Ft. Worth, Texas
OF-Jaime Bubela, Baylor, 6-1, 200, Jr., Houston, Texas, Adam Stern,
Nebraska, 5-10, 165, So., London, Ontario, Canada, Marco Cunningham, Texas
Tech, 5-10, 185, Sr., Silt, Colo., Jason Rainey, Texas Tech, 6-0, 185, Jr.,
Cooper, Texas
DH-Chaz Eiguren, Texas Tech, 6-5, 215, Sr., Broomfield, Colo.
Starting Pitchers-Austin Mix, Oklahoma, 6-3, 208, Fr., Coppell, Texas, Matt
Smith, Oklahoma State, 6-4, 218, Jr., Henderson, Nev., Josh Merrigan,
Oklahoma State, 6-4, 220, Jr., Vermilion, S.D., D.J. Jones, Texas, 6-1, 205,
Sr., Forney, Texas
Relief Pitcher-Jeff Bajenaru, Oklahoma
Honorable Mention
1B Jeff Ontiveros, Texas, 2B Zach Lekse, Oklahoma, 2B Will Bolt, Nebraska,
SS Nebassett Brown, Oklahoma State, SS John Nelson, Kansas, 3B Landon
Brandes, Missouri, C Ryan Wickham, Iowa State, C Ryan Budde, Oklahoma State,
OF Daylan Holt, Texas A&M, DH Jade O'Brien, Iowa State, SP Pete Smart,
Kansas, SP Rusty Philbrick, Kansas, SP Jamie Rodrigue, Nebraska, SP Kevin
Tracey, Texas Tech.
