Feb. 12, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Four members of the No. 1-ranked Texas A&M baseball team were recognized as preseason all-conference picks this week by two national publications.
Baseball America named senior first baseman Luke Anders, senior outfielder Kyle Colligan and junior reliever Travis Starling to its preseason All-Big 12 team. Senior reliever Kyle Thebeau joined Anders and Colligan on rivals.com's preseason All-Big 12 squad.
Anders, a two-time All-Big 12 and All-Midwest Region selection, hit .349 with 58 RBI and a team-high 16 home runs in '08. The Aggies' leading returning hitter in '09, the College Station native also led last year's squad and the Big 12 in both slugging percentage (.660) and on-base percentage (.486).
Colligan started 58 games in center field and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors after hitting .317 with 14 home runs and 39 RBI in 2008. The senior from Houston, who led the team in doubles (19) and runs scored (67), was named Most Valuable Player of the NCAA College Station Regional after smashing four home runs on the weekend.
Starling, from Yoakum, established himself as one of the best closers in the Big 12 in '08 after posting nine saves, third-best in the league. A unanimous first-team all-conference selection out of the pen, Starling also racked up an 8-2 record and set a new career high with eight innings of shutout relief in the Aggies' 16-inning win at No. 5 Nebraska in May.
Thebeau, the team's C.E. "Pat" Olsen Outstanding Pitcher award winner, went 6-3 in '08 with a 2.12 ERA that ranked second in the Big 12 and 15th nationally. The senior from Corpus Christi made a school-record 33 appearances, striking out 79 and holding opposing hitters to a .206 average while allowing two hits or less in 27 of his 32 relief outings on the year.
The Aggies will hold a "mock gameday" scrimmage on Saturday at 12:05 p.m. and fans are encouraged to attend. A&M opens the year next Friday, Feb. 20 at 6:35 p.m. against Wright State. Season tickets and special ticket packs are available now by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 888-99-AGGIE or by logging on to aggieathletics.com.
Baseball America Preseason All-Big 12 Team
C-- Trevor Coleman, Jr., Missouri (.295-4-35) 1B--Luke Anders, Sr., Texas A&M (.349-16-58) 2B--Willie Rueda, Jr., Texas Tech (.361-0-33, 27 SB) 3B--Shaver Hansen, Jr., Baylor (.326-6-47) SS--Thomas Belza, So., Oklahoma State (.386-2-34) OF--Kyle Colligan, Sr., Texas A&M (.317-14-39, 12 SB) OF--Aaron Miller, Jr., Baylor (.295-12-45) OF--Aaron Senne, Jr., Missouri (.347-13-67) DH--Neil Medchill, Jr., Oklahoma State (.349-11-41) SP--Kyle Gibson, Jr., Missouri (9-4, 3.84, 87 IP/96 SO) SP--Andrew Oliver, Jr., Oklahoma State (7-2, 2.20, 98 IP/96 SO) SP--Kendal Volz, Jr., Baylor (3-6, 4.20, 71 IP/85 SO) RP--Travis Starling, Jr., Texas A&M (8-2, 3.70, 9 SV) Player of the Year: Aaron Senne, of, Missouri Pitcher of the Year: Kendal Volz, rhp, Baylor
Rivals.com Preseason All-Big 12 Team
C. Trevor Coleman, Missouri 1B. Luke Anders, Texas A&M 2B. Willie Rueda, Texas Tech SS. Tom Belza, Oklahoma State 3B. Shaver Hansen, Baylor OF. Aaron Senne, Missouri OF. Kyle Colligan, Texas A&M OF. Neil Medchill, Oklahoma State DH. Michael Torres, Texas SP. Andy Oliver, Oklahoma State SP. Kyle Gibson, Missouri SP. Chance Ruffin, Texas RP. Kyle Thebeau, Texas A&M