Nine Bearkats named 2007 All-Southland Conference, Luke Prihoda SLC "Pitcher of the Year"
5/21/2007 1:00:00 AM | Baseball
After leading Sam Houston State to its first winning season since 1998, its first league post-season tournament appearance since 2000, and its best conference finish since 1993, nine Bearkat baseball players have been recognized as All-Southland Conference for the 2007 season.
Luke Prihoda, senior right-handed reliever from Weimar, has been named Southland Conference "Pitcher of the Year." Prihoda se ta league record with 15 saves this season while tossing a 1.33 earned run average with a 5-3 record in 61 innings of relief with 58 strikeouts and just nine walks in 30 appearances for the Bearkats.
Prihoda also is one of three Bearkats to earn first team All-Southland Conference honors. Junior outfielder Bobby Verbick of Angleton and senior designated hitter Karl Krailo also were named to the All-SLC first team.
Verbick hit .379 for the Bearkats, leading the team with 73 RBIs, 22 doubles, and 12 home runs this year. Krailo was .364 at the plate with 14 doubles, five home runs and 44 RBIs.
Junior outfielder Keith Stein of College Station and sophomore pitcher Jacob Howard of West Columbia were second team all-league selections.
Stein led the Bearkats in hitting with a .392 average. Howard compiled a 10-5 record on the mound with a 3.03 ERA.
Second baseman Clint Mann of Pearland, senior shortstop Jeremy Holzbach of League City, junior outfielder Todd Sebek of Kerrville, and senior pitcher Jesse Marshall of Montgomery were all honorable mention selections.
Marshall produced a 7-3 record and 3.50 earned run average as a starting pitcher for the Bearkats. Sebek hit .330, Holzbach .293, and Mann .279.
Sam Houston State begins competition in the Southland Conference post-season tournament in Natchitoches, LA, Wednesday. The Bearkats are seeded fourth in the tournament and will play No. 3 seed Texas State-San Marcos at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first round.
Members of the All-Southland Conference squad are selected by vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Steven Hill of Stephen F. Austin State was named both as SLC "Player of the Year" and "Hitter of the Year." Trent Lockwood of UTSA was SLC "Newcomer of the Year." Tim Palinesar of UTSA was "Freshman of the Year." Sherman Corbett of UTSA was "Coach of the Year."
2007 All-Southland Conference Baseball Team
| FIRST TEAM | ||
| P | LUKE PRIHODA | SAM HOUSTON STATE |
| P | Justin Fiske | Texas St-San Marcos |
| P | Brian Sisk | Lamar |
| C | Michael Ambort | Lamar |
| 1B | Steven Hill | Stephen F. Austin |
| 2B | Ryan Baker | Lamar |
| 3B | Bryan Cartie | McNeese St. |
| SS | Brandon Richey | Northwestern St. |
| OF | BOBBY VERBICK | SAM HOUSTON STATE |
| OF | Charlie Kingray | McNeese St |
| OF | Eric Kanaby | Lamar |
| DH | KARL KRAILO | SAM HOUSTON STATE |
SECOND TEAM | ||
| P | JACOB HOWARD | SAM HOUSTON STATE |
| P | Allen Harrington | Lamar |
| P | Josh Blakley | Texas-San Antonio |
| C | Zach Etheredge | Texas-San Antonio |
| 1B | David Wood | Texas St-San Marcos |
| 2B | James Keithley | Texas-San Antonio |
| 3B | Craig Nyborg | Central Arkansas |
| SS | Thomas Field | Texas St-San Marcos |
| OF | KEITH STEIN | SAM HOUSTON STATE |
| OF | Collin DeLome | Lamar |
| OF | Michael Rockett | Texas-San Antonio |
| DH | Chase Burch | Southeastern Louisiana |
THIRD TEAM | ||
| P | Lance Luetge | Stephen F. Austin |
| P | Erich Lehmann | Stephen F. Austin |
| P | Jason Baca | Texas St.-San Marcos |
| C | Joe Hulett | McNeese State |
| 1B | Trent Lockwood | Texas-San Antonio |
| 2B | Richard Imhoff | Southeastern Louisiana |
| 3B | Ryan Saltzgaber | Texas-San Antonio |
| SS | Kyle Rudy | Texas-Arlington |
| OF | Chase Williams | TX A&M-Corpus Christi |
| OF | Aaron Garza | Texas St-San Marcos |
| OF | Jared Pitts | Stephen F. Austin |
SHSU HONORABLE MENTION SELECTIONS | ||
| 2B | CLINT MANN | |
| SS | JEREMY HOLZBACH | |
| OF | TODD SEBEK | |
| P | JESSE MARSHALL | |
