May 24, 2010
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -
Three Samford baseball players were named to the Southern Conference's Coaches All-Conference teams, released by the league on Monday.
Senior outfielder David Schulze was Samford's lone first-team representative. Freshman closer Lex Rutledge and senior outfielder Wayne Miller were both named to the second team, while Rutledge also earned All-Freshman team honors.
Schulze tied for the SoCon lead in batting with a .387 average. In conference games only, he led the league with a .473 average. He led Samford in home runs with 12 and RBI with 54. He also led the SoCon in on-base percentage at .448, and he ranked sixth in the league in slugging percentage at .657.
Rutledge has tied a Samford record with 11 saves as a freshman. He also has a 5-0 record and a 1.20 ERA in 45.0 innings of work. He leads the Bulldogs with 61 strikeouts, while walking just 15 batters. Rutledge ranks second in the SoCon in saves, and he leads the league in games finished with 27.
Miller led Samford and ranked eighth in the SoCon in hits with 78. He also led the team and tied for fourth in the league in at-bats with 230. Miller posted career highs in doubles (12), home runs (8) and RBI (38) as a senior in 2010.
The Citadel junior right-hander Asher Wojciechowski was named the SoCon's Pitcher of the Year while College of Charleston sophomore third baseman Matt Leeds was honored as the Player of the Year.
The Citadel head coach Fred Jordan, who guided his team to the Southern Conference regular season crown, was chosen as Coach of the Year while Furman shortstop Will Muzika was tabbed Freshman of the Year.
The Southern Conference will also have a Media All-Conference team, which will be released on Tuesday.
2010 SoCon Baseball Coaches All-Conference Team
Player of the Year - Matt Leeds, So., 3B, College of Charleston
Pitcher of the Year - Asher Wojciechowski, Jr., RHP, The Citadel
Freshman of the Year - Will Muzika, Fr., SS, Furman
Coach of the Year - Fred Jordan, The Citadel
First Team
SP: Asher Wojciechowski, The Citadel
SP: Jimmy Reyes, Elon
RP: Chris Patterson, Appalachian State
C: Mike Melillo, Elon
1B: Kyle Blackburn, Georgia Southern
2B: Wes Hobson, Appalachian State
SS: Neal Pritchard, Elon
3B: Matt Leeds, College of Charleston
OF: Cole Rakar, College of Charleston
OF: David Schulze, Samford
OF: Jose Rodriguez, College of Charleston
DH: Mac Doyle, Wofford
Second Team
SP: Matt Benedict, Western Carolina
SP: Kevin Decker, College of Charleston
RP: Lex Rutledge, Samford
C: Rob Kral, College of Charleston
1B: Greg Blake, College of Charleston
2B: Bryan Altman, The Citadel
SS: Eric Phillips, Georgia Southern
3B: Kyle Behrendt, Wofford
OF: Shawn Payne, Georgia Southern
OF: Matt Hinson, Elon
OF: Nick Orvin, The Citadel
OF: Wayne Miller, Samford
DH: Jerod Faggart, Appalachian State
All-Freshman Team
Hector Crespo, Appalachian State
Ryan Stetson, Appalachian State
Christian Powell, College of Charleston
Michael Clevinger, The Citadel
Andrew Barna, Davidson
Alex Swim, Elon
Kyle Webb, Elon
Will Muzika, Furman
Michael Burrus, Georgia Southern
Arthur Owens, Georgia Southern
Harry Slade, UNC Greensboro
Lex Rutledge, Samford
