Oklahoma State University Athletics
Nine Cowboys Named All-Big Conference
May 21, 2008 | Cowboy Baseball
IRVING, Texas — Oklahoma State had nine players earn All-Big Conference accolades for the 2008 season, it was announced by the league today.
The Cowboys had eight players earn first- or second-team honors, the most of any team in the conference. The All-Big 12 teams are selected by the league's coaches.
Earning first-team honors for OSU were utility player Jordy Mercer, outfielder Neil Medchill and pitcher Andrew Oliver. Six Cowboys were named to the second team – Mercer, Rebel Ridling, Thomas Belza, Matt Hague, Luis Flores and Tyler Lyons. Rounding out the list of OSU's all-conference performers were honorable mention outfielder Donnie Webb and Mercer.
Mercer achieved the unique status of earning honors at three different spots. He was named to the first team as a utility player for his efforts as a shortstop and pitcher, earned second-team plaudits as a shortstop and was named honorable mention as a relief pitcher.
A junior, Mercer is a three-time All-Big 12 performer. He earned first-team honors as a utility player as a freshman, and in 2007 he was named to the second team as a utility player and honorable mention as a shortstop.
This season, Mercer has started all 55 games for the Cowboys at shortstop and is hitting .332 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs.
On the mound, where he is OSU's closer, Mercer has made 14 appearances and is 0-2 with a 4.96 ERA and a team-high eight saves. He is OSU's all-time saves leader with 16, and his eight saves are the second-highest single-season total in school history.
Medchill is a first-team all-league performer in his first season with the Cowboys. The redshirt sophomore is hitting .354 with nine homers and 38 RBIs, and he led OSU with a .370 average in conference play.
A sophomore southpaw, Oliver is 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA and leads OSU with 85 strikeouts in 92 innings of work. He has allowed two or fewer runs in 12 of his 13 starts this season, and opponents are hitting just .201 against him.
Ridling highlights a group of six Cowboys on the All-Big 12 second team. The Cowboys' senior first baseman was also named second-team all-conference last season.
This year, Ridling is hitting .330 and leads OSU with 16 homers and 59 RBIs. His 16 round trippers is the second most in the league.
Belza earned all-conference honors in his first season with the Cowboys. The freshman from
Hague is another newcomer who transferred to OSU from
Another transfer, Luis Flores, was one of two second-team All-Big 12 catchers. A junior who played his first two seasons at Houston,
Lyons, a sophomore southpaw, was named to the second team after compiling a 10-2 record and a 3.06 ERA in 13 starts.
A junior outfielder, Webb is hitting .363 with six homers and 39 RBIs and earned conference honors for the first time in his career.
2008 ALL-BIG 12 BASEBALL AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Aaron Crow, Missouri, RHP, Jr., Wakarusa, Kan./Washburn Rural
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Chance Ruffin, Texas, RHP, Fr., Austin, Texas/Lake Travis
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: José Duran, Texas A&M, SS, Jr., Fort Worth, Texas/North Central College
COACH OF THE YEAR: Rob Childress, Texas A&M
ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM
Name, School Pos. Cl. Hometown/Previous School
Luke Anders,
Jake Opitz, Nebraska 2B Sr. Littleton, Colo./Heritage
José Duran, Texas A&M SS Jr. Fort Worth, Texas/North Central Texas College
Dane Carter, Texas A&M 3B Sr. Graham, Texas/Graham
Mitch Abeita, Nebraska C Sr. Dallas, Texas/North Central Texas College
Aaron Senne, Missouri OF So.
Neil Medchill,
Kyle Colligan, Texas A&M OF Jr. Houston, Texas/Dulles
Jacob Priday, Missouri DH Sr. Sikeston, Mo./Sikeston
Aaron Crow, Missouri SP Jr. Wakarusa, Kan./Washburn Rural
Johnny Dorn, Nebraska SP Sr. Grand Island, Neb./Grand Island
Andrew Oliver, Oklahoma State SP So. Vermilion, Ohio/Vermilion
Travis Starling,
ALL-BIG 12 SECOND TEAM
Name, School Pos. Cl. Hometown/Previous School
Rebel Ridling, Oklahoma State 1B Sr. Sentinel, Okla./Midland JC
Thomas Belza, Oklahoma State 2B Fr. Loveland, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller
Jordy Mercer, Oklahoma State SS Jr. Taloga, Okla./Taloga
Matt Hague, Oklahoma State 3B Sr. Kent, Wash./Washington
Trevor Coleman, Missouri* C So.
Luis Flores, Oklahoma State* C Jr. Del Rio, Texas/Houston
Aljay Davis, Oklahoma OF Sr. Lakewood, Calif./NE Oklahoma A&M
Jordan Danks, Texas OF Jr. Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock
Roger Kieschnick, Texas Tech OF Jr. Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall
Darby Brown, Texas A&M DH Sr. Lubbock, Texas/Cooper
Brian Ruggiano, Texas A&M UTL Jr. Austin, Texas/Temple College
Thad Weber, Nebraska SP Sr. Friend, Neb./Hutchinson CC
Tyler Lyons, Oklahoma State SP So. Lubbock, Texas/Frenship HS
Chance Ruffin, Texas SP Fr. Austin, Texas/Lake Travis
Daniel Edwards, Kansas State RP Sr. Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood
*A tie in voting resulted in two second-team catchers.
Honorable Mention -- Baylor: Shaver Hansen, 3B; Shawn Tolleson, SP; Beamer Weems, SS Kansas: Buck Afenir, C; John Allman, OF; Erik Morrison, SS; Robby Price, 2B; Ryne Price, OF; Paul Smyth, RP Kansas State: Brad Hutt, SP Missouri: Greg Folgia, 2B; Kyle Gibson, SP; Ryan Lollis, OF Nebraska: Craig Corriston, 1B; Dan Jennings, RP; Bryce Nimmo, OF Oklahoma: Mike Gosse, UTL; Jamie Johnson, OF Oklahoma State: Jordy Mercer, RP, Donnie Webb, OF Texas: Brandon Belt, 1B; Preston Clark, UTL; Cole Green, RP; David Hernandez, SS; Russell Moldenhauer, OF; Cameron Rupp, C; Kyle Russell, OF; Michael Torres, DH Texas A&M: Clayton Ehlert, SP; Barret Loux, SP; Brooks Raley, SP; Blake Stouffer, 2B; Kyle Thebeau, RP Texas Tech: Willie Rueda, 2B
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