Oklahoma State University Athletics
Matt Kroon
Kroon, Teel Highlight Cowboy Baseball All-Big 12 Selections
May 22, 2018 | Cowboy Baseball
IRVING, Texas – Oklahoma State's Matt Kroon was named the 2018 Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year and Carson Teel earned All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors, leading a group of 11 Cowboys to earn recognition from the league today.
Teel was the Cowboys' lone All-Big 12 First Team selection, while OSU placed four on the All-Big 12 Second Team as Kroon, Colin Simpson, Michael Neustifter and Jon Littell earned that distinction. Six Pokes – Peyton Battenfield, Trevor Boone, Christian Funk, Joe Lienhard, Carson McCusker and C.J. Varela – were named honorable mention all-conference.
Kroon becomes the third player in program history to collect Big 12 Newcomer of the Year accolades, joining Zach Johnson (2011) and Tyler Mach (2006) on that list.
An infielder who transferred to OSU following a stint at Central Arizona CC, Kroon has been among the Cowboys' and Big 12's top hitters in his first season in Stillwater. Along with a .296 batting average and 11 home runs, both of which rank second on the team, Kroon leads the Pokes in hits (58), runs (52), doubles (17), stolen bases (14) and on-base percentage (.420).
Kroon has started 51 games this season, 34 of those at shortstop and 17 at third base. He has reached base safely in 48 games, including streaks of 24 and 23 consecutive games.
Teel has enjoyed a successful junior campaign on the mound both as a starter and reliever. In 19 appearances, 10 of those starts, the southpaw is 7-3 with a pair of complete games and three saves.
A two-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week this season, Teel opened the year in the bullpen but has made a successful transition into the Cowboys' starting rotation. He ranks third in the Big 12 in wins, fourth in strikeouts (81) and ninth in opponent batting average (.256).
One of the Big 12's top sluggers, Simpson earned all-conference honors as a catcher. He leads OSU and ranks second in the Big 12 and eighth nationally with 18 homers, matching the highest home run total by a Cowboy in a decade.
Simpson, who has started all 52 games for the Cowboys this season, owns a .287 batting average and also leads OSU in hits (58), RBIs (51), total bases (124) and slugging percentage (.614).
Littell has made the most of his final season in Stillwater, starting every game in the outfield and hitting .253 while posting career highs in nearly every offensive category, including seven homers, nine doubles and 38 RBIs.
In Big 12 play, Littell led the Cowboys with a .341 batting average and tallied three homers, seven doubles and 21 RBIs.
Neustifter has emerged as OSU's most reliable hitter with a team-best .310 batting average. The sophomore has entrenched himself as the Cowboys' third baseman, and he ranks second on the team with 14 doubles while also collecting four homers and 33 RBIs.
Sophomores Boone and McCusker came on strong in Big 12 play to help the Cowboys make a run at a Big 12 title. Boone ranked second on the team in league games with seven homers and 24 RBIs, while McCusker smacked six round trippers and drove in 11 runs while hitting .314 against conference competition.
Funk has started 47 games at first base in his first season at OSU, and the junior has posted six homers and 29 RBIs while ranking third on the team with 30 walks.
Battenfield, Lienhard and Varela have helped bolster an OSU pitching staff riddled with injuries. Lienhard posted a 4-1 record in eight Big 12 starts and is 5-2 overall. Battenfield leads the Cowboys with 24 appearances and is 2-2 with a pair of saves and 52 strikeouts in 49 innings of work, while fellow sophomore Varela is tied for the team lead with three saves to go along with a 4-0 record and 3.40 ERA.
The 2018 All-Big 12 teams and awards are voted on by the conference's head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.
Teel was the Cowboys' lone All-Big 12 First Team selection, while OSU placed four on the All-Big 12 Second Team as Kroon, Colin Simpson, Michael Neustifter and Jon Littell earned that distinction. Six Pokes – Peyton Battenfield, Trevor Boone, Christian Funk, Joe Lienhard, Carson McCusker and C.J. Varela – were named honorable mention all-conference.
Kroon becomes the third player in program history to collect Big 12 Newcomer of the Year accolades, joining Zach Johnson (2011) and Tyler Mach (2006) on that list.
An infielder who transferred to OSU following a stint at Central Arizona CC, Kroon has been among the Cowboys' and Big 12's top hitters in his first season in Stillwater. Along with a .296 batting average and 11 home runs, both of which rank second on the team, Kroon leads the Pokes in hits (58), runs (52), doubles (17), stolen bases (14) and on-base percentage (.420).
Kroon has started 51 games this season, 34 of those at shortstop and 17 at third base. He has reached base safely in 48 games, including streaks of 24 and 23 consecutive games.
Teel has enjoyed a successful junior campaign on the mound both as a starter and reliever. In 19 appearances, 10 of those starts, the southpaw is 7-3 with a pair of complete games and three saves.
A two-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week this season, Teel opened the year in the bullpen but has made a successful transition into the Cowboys' starting rotation. He ranks third in the Big 12 in wins, fourth in strikeouts (81) and ninth in opponent batting average (.256).
One of the Big 12's top sluggers, Simpson earned all-conference honors as a catcher. He leads OSU and ranks second in the Big 12 and eighth nationally with 18 homers, matching the highest home run total by a Cowboy in a decade.
Simpson, who has started all 52 games for the Cowboys this season, owns a .287 batting average and also leads OSU in hits (58), RBIs (51), total bases (124) and slugging percentage (.614).
Littell has made the most of his final season in Stillwater, starting every game in the outfield and hitting .253 while posting career highs in nearly every offensive category, including seven homers, nine doubles and 38 RBIs.
In Big 12 play, Littell led the Cowboys with a .341 batting average and tallied three homers, seven doubles and 21 RBIs.
Neustifter has emerged as OSU's most reliable hitter with a team-best .310 batting average. The sophomore has entrenched himself as the Cowboys' third baseman, and he ranks second on the team with 14 doubles while also collecting four homers and 33 RBIs.
Sophomores Boone and McCusker came on strong in Big 12 play to help the Cowboys make a run at a Big 12 title. Boone ranked second on the team in league games with seven homers and 24 RBIs, while McCusker smacked six round trippers and drove in 11 runs while hitting .314 against conference competition.
Funk has started 47 games at first base in his first season at OSU, and the junior has posted six homers and 29 RBIs while ranking third on the team with 30 walks.
Battenfield, Lienhard and Varela have helped bolster an OSU pitching staff riddled with injuries. Lienhard posted a 4-1 record in eight Big 12 starts and is 5-2 overall. Battenfield leads the Cowboys with 24 appearances and is 2-2 with a pair of saves and 52 strikeouts in 49 innings of work, while fellow sophomore Varela is tied for the team lead with three saves to go along with a 4-0 record and 3.40 ERA.
The 2018 All-Big 12 teams and awards are voted on by the conference's head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.
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