May 23, 2006

HOUSTON - University of Memphis first baseman Adam Amar highlighted a group of three Tigers to earn All-Conference USA honors as league officials announced today. Amar, who was named Co-Hitter of the Week yesterday, was tabbed a First Team performer. He is joined by sophomore centerfielder K.K. Chalmers and freshman pitcher Scott McGregor, who both were named the C-USA Second Team. McGregor also earned All-Freshman accolades.

A former walk-on for the Tigers, Amar has developed into the league's most feared hitters, leading all C-USA players with a .410 average. His average is 20 points higher than next highest average. Amar has had a breakout year and continues to climb the University of Memphis career charts. The junior first baseman has a career-high 80 hits, 60 RBI and 10 home runs. He currently ranks seventh all-time at Memphis with 135 RBI. The Lake Mary, Fla. native has a pair of multi-home run performances this year. A two-time Conference Hitter of the Week honoree, Amar hit three homers in an 11-4 win over #14 Tulane and capped the regular season with a pair of round-trippers in a 6-for-6 outing against ECU on Saturday.

Chalmers has also had a solid season and leads the league with 37 stolen bases. He is two swipes shy of the Memphis single-season record set by former Tiger standout and head coach Dave Anderson in 1981. Known for his speed and outstanding range in centerfield, Chalmers has flashed impressive numbers at the plate in the sophomore campaign. He is currently enjoying a nine-game hitting streak that has seen his average jump from .287 to the current .318. In addition, the Tiger leadoff hitter has 28 RBI, 10 home runs, six doubles and six triples.

McGregor rounds out the trio, and is the third Tiger to ever earn All-Freshman recognition, after posting some of the best freshman numbers in the league. The Tiger righthander served as the No. 1 starter for the majority of the season and has a team-best 6-3 record, including a 4-1 mark in eight C-USA starts. He leads the team in starts (13) and innings pitched (73). Memphis is 9-4 in his 13 starts. McGregor has gotten his career off to a solid start, holding Oklahoma to one unearned run in his first collegiate outing--a performance that garnered C-USA Pitcher of the Week honors. The freshman followed that performance with a pair of complete-game wins over #14 Tulane and #20 Southern Miss to pick up his first two C-USA victories.

The three honorees is the most-ever to be named as All-C-USA players for Memphis.

The No. 4 Tigers will take on No. 5 Southern Miss in the final game of the C-USA Tournament's opening day of action on Wed., May 24. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. at Rice's Reckling Park.

2006 CONFERENCE USA BASEBALL AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mark Hamilton, Tulane
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Brad Lincoln, Houston
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Warren McFadden, Tulane
KEITH LECLAIR COACH OF THE YEAR
Wayne Graham, Rice
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
IF Adam Amar, Memphis
IF Brian Friday, Rice
IF Isa Garcia, Houston
IF Mark Hamilton, Tulane
IF Marc Maddox, Southern Miss
OF Toddric Johnson, Southern Miss
OF Warren McFadden, Tulane
OF Matt Weston, Houston
C Jake Smith, East Carolina
DH/UT Brad Lincoln, Houston
P Tim Bascom, UCF
P Eddie Degerman, Rice
P Brad Lincoln, Houston
P Sean Morgan, Tulane
RP Cole St.Clair, Rice
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
IF Josh Rodriguez, Rice
IF Joe Savery, Rice
IF Trey Sutton, Southern Miss
IF Adam Witter, East Carolina
OF K.K. Chalmers, Memphis
OF Aaron Luna, Rice
OF Nathan Southard, Tulane
C Kevin Coker, Southern Miss
DH/UT Brendan Murphy, Marshall
P Bobby Bell, Rice
P Craig Crow, Rice
P Scott McGregor, Memphis
P Brody Taylor, East Carolina
RP Daniel Best, Southern Miss
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Luke Adkins, OF, Southern Miss
Travis Cougot, SS, Houston
Dave DiNatale, OF, UCF
Brian Dozier, SS, Southern Miss
Michael Ewing, 1B, Southern Miss
Luis Flores, C/P, Houston
Mitch Houck, P, UCF
Aaron Luna, OF, Rice
Warren McFadden, OF, Tulane
Scott McGregor, P, Memphis
Ryan Wood, IF, East Carolina