May 25, 2006
Texas A&M's Hart Hering and Jose Salazar were named to the All-Big 12 baseball team as selected by the coaches of the league and announced by the conference office Thursday.
"Hart and Jose are certainly deserving of these awards," commented A&M head coach Rob Childress. "Hart was our go-to guy out of the pen and he got the job done every time we called on him. Jose was our most consistent player all season."
Hering, a senior right-handed pitcher form Waco, Texas, was named to the second-team as a relief pitcher after setting an A&M single-season record with 32 appearances. Hering finished the year with a sparkling ERA of 2.81 and had three saves. In 42 2/3 innings on the mound, Hering struck out 36 batters and allowed only 16 walks and 27 hits, while limiting opponents to a .194 batting average.
Salazar, a senior middle infielder from Dallas, received an honorable mention citation after leading the Aggies with a .308 batting average and 24 RBI. Salazar chipped in with five doubles and only struck out 16 times in 182 at bats. Defensively Salazar was brilliant, committing only 10 errors in 246 chances at second base and shortstop.
2006 All-Big 12 Conference Baseball Team (Ties reflected in voting)
- First Team
1B-(tie) Brandon Buckman, Nebraska; Chance Wheeless, Texas
2B-Jared Schweitzer, Kansas
3B-Tyler Mach, Oklahoma State
SS-Ryan Wehrle, Nebraska
C-Zach Dillon, Baylor
OF-Luke Gorsett, Nebraska; Drew Stubbs, Texas; Roger Kieschnick, Texas Tech
DH-(tie) Jacob Priday, Missouri; Hunter Harris, Texas
UTIL-Jordy Mercer (SS-P), Oklahoma State
SP-Nathan Culp, Missouri; Tony Watson, Nebraska; Kyle McCulloch, Texas
RP-Don Czyz, Kansas; Brett Jensen, Nebraska
Player of the Year-(co) Tyler Mach, Oklahoma State; Drew Stubbs, Texas
Pitcher of the Year- Kyle McCulloch, Texas
Newcomer of the Year- Tyler Mach, Oklahoma State
Freshman Player of the Year- OF Roger Kieschnick, Texas Tech
Freshman Pitcher of the Year- Miles Morgan, Texas Tech
Second Team
1B-Kevin Smith, Oklahoma
2B-Russell Raley, Oklahoma; Shelby Ford, Oklahoma State
3B-Jared Goedert, Kansas State; Ryan Rohlinger, Oklahoma
SS-Beamer Weems, Baylor; Ritchie Price, Kansas
C-Matt Smith, Texas Tech
OF-John Allman, Kansas; Gus Milner, Kansas; Chuckie Caulfield, Oklahoma; Corey Brown, Oklahoma State; Keanon Simon, Oklahoma State; Carson Kainer, Texas
DH-Deik Scram, Oklahoma State
UTIL-Andrew Brown, Nebraska; Aaron Reza, Oklahoma
SP-Johnny Dorn, Nebraska; Daniel McCutchen, Oklahoma; Steven Guerra, Oklahoma; Brae Wright, Oklahoma State
RP-Austin Wood, Texas; Hart Hering, Texas A&M
Honorable Mention: Baylor - OF Seth Fortenberry; SP Ryan LaMotta; Kansas - SP Kodiak Quick; Kansas S tate - OF Joe Roundy; OF Barrett Rice; Missouri - OF Evan Frey; OF Zane Taylor; SP Max Scherzer; RP Travis Wendte; Nebraska - 2B Jake Opitz; C Jeff Christy; OF Nick Jaros; DH Andy Gerch; Oklahoma - C Jackson Williams; Oklahoma State - SP Matt Gardner; Texas A&M - SS Jose Salazar; Texas Tech - 2B Willie Rueda; SP Miles Morgan.