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 Sophomore Steven Strausbaugh led two Catamounts on the All-SoCon first team as three were honored today by the conference office. |
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May 24, 2006
Charleston, S.C. - Western Carolina had three players named to the All-Southern Conference baseball team, including first team selections Steven Strausbaugh and Jonathan Greene and second team pick Blake Murphy, it was announced today.
Strausbaugh, a sophomore right fielder, was last year's SoCon Freshman of the Year and second team honoree. This season, the Venice, Fla., native led the Southern Conference in home runs (16), total bases (132) and slugging percentage (.684). He became the 16th Catamount to lead the SoCon in home runs since 1987 and the fifth to accomplish the feat in the seven-year tenure of WCU head coach Todd Raleigh. Strausbaugh additionally ranked fourth in the league in runs scored (56), fourth in RBI (57), sixth in doubles (16), ninth in one base percentage (.442) and 16th in batting average (.342). In the outfield, he came through with five assists. This year, Stausbaugh was both a SoCon Player of the Week and a TIAA-CREF SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week, posting a cumulative GPA of 3.36 in biology.
Greene, a sophomore third baseman, closed the season as perhaps the hottest hitter in the SoCon, earning SoCon and national Player of the Week recognition in the final games of the regular season. A mere two weeks ago, the Boone, N.C., native did not rank among the league leaders in any offensive category. However, after closing the regular season with a nine-game hit streak and hitting a home run in the final five contests, Greene ended the year ranked second in home runs (14), second in total bases (127), fifth in RBI (54) and seventh in hits (74). Over the past 30 games, his batting average jumped from .250 to .333 thanks to 17 multi-hit games. What makes his selection as a first team third baseman is the fact that Greene is, by trade, a catcher. However, last year he was asked to play left field before being asked to play third for this season.
Murphy, a sophomore catcher, was the SoCon Player of the Month for March, a month which he was named National Player of the Week along with teammate Trey McDaniel on Mar. 27. The Waynesville, N.C., product ended the season as the SoCon leader in RBI with 58. Western has now had the SoCon RBI leader 11 times, including current WCU coaches Raleigh (twice) and Alan Beck. Murphy's production with runners on base played a part in three Catamounts ranking among the SoCon leaders in runs scored, marking the only team in the league with three players in the top 10. He additionally ranked fourth in triples (4) and 11th in home runs (10). He added 14 doubles and a season batting average of .307. Murphy, who entered the season with zero stolen bases, led the Catamounts with 11 thefts this season.
Western Carolina, who defeated Furman 14-1 in the first round, will face second-seed and 28th-ranked College of Charleston in round two of the 2006 Southern Conference Championship. First pitch at Riley Park is set for 4:00 pm.
2006 All-Southern Conference Coaches Team
FIRST TEAM P - Nick Chigges, College of Charleston P - Everett Teaford, Georgia Southern RP - Josh McLaughlin, College of Charleston C - Tony Maccani, Furman 1B - Greg Dowling, Georgia Southern 2B - Ronnie Shore, Davidson SS - A.J. Davidiuk, Furman 3B - Jonathan Greene, Western Carolina OF - Chris Swauger, The Citadel OF - Chris Price, Elon OF - Jermaine Mitchell, UNC Greensboro OF - Steven Strausbaugh, Western Carolina DH - Robert Rodebaugh, ElonSECOND TEAM P - Danny Messaros, College of Charleston P - Matt Chastain, Elon RP - Patrick Currin, UNC Greensboro C - Blake Murphy, Western Carolina 1B - Case Cassedy, Furman 2B - Chris Campbell, College of Charleston SS - Jay Heafner, Davidson 3B - Jess Easterling, College of Charleston OF - Philip Coker, College of Charleston OF - Grant Rembert, Elon OF - Gregory Zage, Davidson DH - Sonny Meade, The Citadel
Player of the Year - A.J. Davidiuk, Furman Pitcher of the Year - Nick Chigges, College of Charleston Freshman of the Year - Steven Hensley, Elon Coach of the Year - Mike Kennedy, Elon
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