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Memphis Freshmen Martinez and McClain Tabbed C-USA All-Freshman Performers
May 19, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - University of Memphis centerfielder Drew Martinez and second baseman Adam McClain were both named to the 2009 C-USA All-Freshman Team, the league announced today. The multiple All-Freshman honors are a first for the Memphis baseball program. The duo joins the likes of current Toledo Mud Hens (AAA affiliate of Detroit Tigers) shortstop Brent Dlugach (2002), Quad Cities River Bandits (A affiliate of St. Louis Cardinals) pitcher Scott McGregor (2006) and New England Patriots All-Pro kicker Stephen Gostkowski (2003) as the program's five all-time C-USA All-Freshman selections. Martinez had a standout rookie campaign, leading the Tigers with a .309 batting average, a .392 on-base percentage and 60 hits. The CBHS product is the first freshman to lead a Memphis team in hitting since Shane Young hit .413 to lead the 1981 Tigers. Martinez started in centerfield in 46 of the 48 games he has played in, including 18 of his 19 C-USA games. He scored 32 runs, drove in 12 more and stole nine bases in his freshman season. The son of former major leaguer Chito Martinez, Drew got his career off to a fast start, going 3-for-5 with the game-winning RBI in Memphis' 5-4 season-opening win over Kansas (2/20/09). He went on to hit safely in his first five collegiate games. His first season was highlighted by a club-high 19 multi-hit games that included a career-high 4-for-5 effort in a 13-inning win over Austin Peay (4/15/09). McClain, who is also a local product from Houston High School, bounced back from a season-ending jaw injury in 2008 to put up some of the squad's top power numbers as a redshirt freshman. McClain started in all 46 games he has appeared in, making 37 starts at second and nine in leftfield. The redshirt freshman hit .288 and finished second on the team with a .471 slugging percentage, 92 total bases, six home runs (four in C-USA play) and three triples. In addition, he tied for second on the team with 55 hits. McClain highlighted his rookie season with a Memphis-best 17-game hit streak (4/1-4/24). He hit safely in 25 of the last 28 games. McClain came up big in several occasions for the Tiger offense in 2009. He drove in the game-winning run in a 5-4, 13-inning win over Austin Peay on April 15 and went 2-for-6 with a grand slam, a career-high five RBI and two runs versus Tulane on April 26.
Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon became the first player in Conference USA history to be named Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year in the same season to headline the league's top individual awards, as announced on Tuesday in Hattiesburg, Miss., the site of the 2009 Conference USA Baseball Championship. Southern Miss sophomore right-hander Todd McInnis was named the league's Pitcher of the Year, while Newcomer of the Year honors went to East Carolina junior righthander Chris Heston. The Keith LeClair Coach of the Year award returned to the East Carolina family, as Pirate head coach Billy Godwin won the award that is named for the former ECU skipper who courageously battled ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) before his passing in 2006. Voting was done by a panel consisting of each head coach, each team's sports information director and a media representative from each city. 2009 CONFERENCE USA BASEBALL AWARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR PITCHER OF THE YEAR FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR KEITH LECLAIR COACH OF THE YEAR FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM |
Memphis Tigers
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