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 Steven Strausbaugh was recently singled out by SEBaseball.com as one of the top 10 power hitters in the South. |
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Oct. 18, 2006
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina junior right fielder Steven Strausbaugh was recently singled out by SEBaseball.com in "Going Deep" as one of the top 10 power hitters in the South. An All-American candidate, Strausbaugh hit 17 home runs in 54 games in 2006 with his average of 0.31 home runs per game ranking 23rd nationally. The Venice, Fla., native additionally ranked among the NCAA leaders in RBI (34th), slugging percentage (36th) and runs scored (39th).
The Catamounts were also featured earlier by SEBaseball.com and the article can be found at the following link (which requires subscription): Fallball: Catamounts to Contend in SoCon
In addition to being one of the top power hitters in the nation, Strausbaugh also possesses one of the strongest arms around. Prior to last season, Baseball America listed him as having the best outfield arm in the Southern Conference in its annual preseason publication. He had three assists as a freshman and, despite the preseason publicity in 2006, still threw out five baserunners as a sophomore.
Last season was an eventful one for Strausbaugh. This past summer, he was the starting right fielder for the Cape Cod Baseball League champion Yarmouth-Denis Red Sox. Prior to that, he was tabbed first team All-SoCon and second team All-Atlantic Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association. His honors came on the strength on leading the SoCon in home runs (17), RBI (64) and slugging percentage (.675). Also among the the SoCon leaders, he ranked third in runs (61). Between his RBI and runs scored, he was single-handedly responsible for 2.3 runs per game. Even if counting his home runs just once in that equation (as either just an RBI or a run scored), he was still single-handedly responsible for 2.0 runs per game in 2006.
Also making the SEBaseball.com list of top power hitters in the South were:
Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt, Sophomore, Third Baseman - 22 HR in 2006
Sean Coughlin, Kentucky, Senior, Catcher - 17 HR in 2006
Andy D'Alessio, Clemson, Senior, First Baseman - 23 HR and 85 RBI in 2006
Josh Dew, Troy, Senior, Corner Infielder/Pitcher - 17 HR in 2006
Allan Dykstra, Wake Forest, Sophomore, First Baseman - 15 HR in 2006
Danny Hamblin, Arkansas, Senior, Corner Infielder - 17 HR in 2006
Kellen Kulbacki, James Madison, Junior, Outfielder - NCAA-best 24 HR in 2006
Matt LaPorta, Florida, Senior, First Baseman - 26 HR in 2005 & 14 in 43 games in '06
Justin Smoak, South Carolina, Sophomore, First Baseman - 17 HR in 2006
Steven Strausbaugh, Western Carolina, Junior, Outfielder - 17 HR in 2006
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