June 16, 2007
Three members of the No. 7 Texas A&M baseball team recently received All-American citations after leading the Aggies to the best turnaround in NCAA baseball this season.
Junior utility player Blake Stouffer (San Antonio, Texas), senior pitcher Kyle Nicholson (College Station, Texas), and junior shortstop Brandon Hicks (Houston, Texas) earned All-American accolades by one or more of five reputable baseball media outlets or associations.
Stouffer, the team's most consistent hitter throughout the year and a first-team all-Big 12 selection, led Texas A&M in virtually every offensive category. He hit .398 and became just the third person in A&M history to collect at least 100 hits, tallying 102 knocks in the Aggies' 67 games. He also led the team with 85 RBI, third-most in a single season in A&M history. In addition, he led the Aggies with 23 doubles, five triples, and tied for the team lead with 12 home runs. Stouffer was drafted in the fourth round of the recent draft by the Cincinnati Reds.
Nicholson, the Aggies's ace on the mound and first-team all-Big 12 selection, came out the bullpen early in the year before moving to the starting rotation. He finished the year with a record of 11-3 and had a sparkling ERA of 2.25 in 124 innings on the mound. Additionally, he collected four saves and struck out 99 hitters while walking just 21. Nicholson was drafted in the seventh round by the San Francisco Giants.
Hicks, a transfer from San Jacinto College, burst onto the scene with a big bat and flashy defense. Hicks hit .338 and led the team with 75 runs scored. He also had 21 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 59 RBI, and 28 stolen bases. Hicks was the first A&M player taken in the draft and was selected in the third round by the Atlanta Braves.
Stouffer, Nicholson, and Hicks were key cogs in the leading the Aggies to a final record of 48-19, a Big 12 Tournament Championship, and a trip to one of eight NCAA Super Regionals.
TEXAS A&M ALL-AMERICANS
- BLAKE STOUFFER
- First-Team DH (Rivals.com)
- Second-team DH (Baseball America Magazine)
- Third-team 3B (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association)
- Third-team 3B (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper)
KYLE NICHOLSON
- Second-team RHP (Rivals.com)
- Second-team RHP (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper)
- Third-team RHP (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association)
- Third-team RHP (American Baseball Coaches Association)
BRANDON HICKS
- Third-team SS (Baseball America Magazine)