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JACKSON, Tenn. - Southeast Missouri State senior first baseman
Matt Tellor was named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year while the duo of Murray State junior
Brock Downey and Southeast Missouri junior
Travis Hayes earned Co-OVC Pitcher of the Year honors at the annual OVC Awards Banquet held on the eve of the 2014 OVC Baseball Championship (which is being held at The Ballpark at Jackson for the fifth-straight season). Austin Peay utility player
Alex Robles was tabbed OVC Rookie of the Year while Southeast Missouri's
Steve Bieser took home OVC Coach of the Year honors.
The awards are voted on by league head coaches and sports information directors and were awarded along with first and second-team All-OVC and All-Freshman honors. Southeast Missouri and Tennessee Tech tied for the most first-team selections (3) while Tech's eight selections across the three teams led all schools. For the second-straight season Eastern Kentucky led the way with four All-Freshman Team picks while Austin Peay added three.
After having a solid first-year with the Redhawks in 2013 (.311, 73 hits, 8 home runs, 46 RBI), Tellor made an even bigger impact as a senior in leading Southeast Missouri to its second overall OVC regular season championship. The first baseman played in all 54 games and hit .392 with 87 hits, 57 runs, 18 doubles, 15 home runs, 71 RBI and a .676 slugging percentage. Tellor also added 19 multi-RBI games (first in the league) and 26 multi-hit contests (fifth in the league) and along the way set a new Southeast Missouri single-season RBI record (breaking a mark that had stood since 1995). His numbers were even better in OVC play where he had hits in 28 of 30 Conference contests, including a hit in 16-straight OVC games to end the season. In those contests Tellor hit .431 with 56 hits, 39 runs, 12 doubles, 13 home runs, 50 RBI, a .823 slugging percentage and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Nationally Tellor ranks second in RBI per game (1.31), fourth in total bases (150), sixth in home runs (0.28/game), seventh in slugging (.676), ninth in hits (87), 14th in batting average (.392) and16th in runs per game (1.06). In a game against UT Martin on March 30 he was 4-for-5 with four runs scored, three home runs and five RBI; that performance would earn him Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week honors. Tellor had a five-hit performance at Austin Peay on April 13 and smashed two home runs and drove in four RBI at Murray State on May 3. Overall Tellor is the fifth Southeast Missouri player to earn Player of the Year honors and first since Trenton Moses won back-to-back awards in 2011 and 2012.
For the first time in league history two individuals are sharing the OVC Pitcher of the Year Award. The award was first awarded during the 1992 season.
Downey led the OVC in victories with nine (a mark that ranks 26th nationally) while finishing second in the league in E.R.A. (2.76, just 0.04 behind the leader). The junior tossed four complete games, a mark that was first in the OVC and 21st nationally. Along the way he pitched a school-record 107.2 innings, seven more than anybody else in the OVC. Downey struck out 74 batters during the season and limited opponents to a .241 batting average. He struck out a career-high 12 batters in a complete game victory over UT Martin in March and added eight strikeouts in a complete game victory at Eastern Kentucky at the end of the regular season. Overall Downey is the second MSU player to be named OVC Pitcher of the Year, joining Daniel Calhoun (2009); five other Thoroughbreds have also taken home the top overall award (when the Player and Pitcher of the Year award were combined).
In his first season with the Southeast Missouri team, Hayes appeared in 16 games (starting nine) and compiled an 8-1 record and 3.22 E.R.A. in 78.1 innings of work. He began the year in the bullpen before becoming a starter during the first OVC series of the season. His eight victories were second in the OVC (56th nationally), his E.R.A. ranked fourth and he held opponents to a .237 batting average which was fifth in the league. In league-only games Hayes compiled a 7-1 record and 2.74 E.R.A. (second in the OVC). The junior earned complete game victories against SIUE and Jacksonville State (a three-hit shutout) and capped the season by earning a victory in a four-inning relief stint at Tennessee Tech to help the Redhawks lock up the OVC regular season championship. Hayes is the sixth different Southeast Missouri pitcher to be named OVC Pitcher of the Year and first since Tim Alvarez took home the honor in 2003, completing a three-year run of Southeast pitchers winning the award.
Overall it marks the eighth time in OVC history that one school has had the OVC Player and Pitcher of the Year in the same season; Southeast Missouri also accomplished the feat in 1995 and 2001.
Robles was the top hitter and pitcher on the Austin Peay team in his first season with the Governors. He played in all 56 team games, splitting time between designated hitter, third base, second base and starting pitcher. At the plate Robles hit a team-best .349 (eighth in the OVC) with 73 hits, 35 runs, 14 doubles, two triples, a home run and 39 RBI while adding 21 multi-hit games. On the mound as the team's No. 1 starter he appeared in 16 contests (14 starts) and had a team-best 3.63 E.R.A and 6-2 record in 84.1 innings of work. Robles struck out 56 batters and had a one-hit shutout at Belmont during the campaign and followed that game by striking out a season-best 13 in a game against Eastern Kentucky. Robles is the second Austin Peay player to earn OVC Rookie of the Year honors since the award was first handed out in 2000 (Rowdy Hardy in 2004).
In the second season as head coach at his alma mater, Bieser took a team that was predicted sixth in the league's preseason poll and led them to a 23-7 record as Southeast Missouri claimed its second OVC regular season championship (and first since 2002). Bieser helped guide the team from a 26-33 overall and 13-17 OVC record in his first season to a 36-18 overall and 23-7 OVC record this season. The 23 Conference victories are the second-most in league history while the team's 36 overall wins are just one shy of tying the school record established in each 2000 and 2002. As a team Southeast ranks first nationally in sacrifice flies (45), fourth in double plays (1.17/game), seventh in scoring (7.3 runs/game), eighth in hits (591), ninth in batting average (.309), 10th in stolen bases (1.74/game), 14th in on-base percentage (.394) and 18th in slugging (.429). Entering this week the team is receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) poll after winning 22 of its last 30 games overall. Bieser is the second Southeast Missouri head coach to earn the honor, joining Mark Hogan (2002).
Tellor, Downey and Hayes were three of the 15 total first-team selections which included seven seniors, seven juniors and a freshman. Three players were repeat first-team selections in Eastern Kentucky senior catcher
Sean Hagen, Tennessee Tech senior third baseman
Daniel Miles and Tennessee Tech senior outfielder
Brandon Thomasson. Hagen, a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, hit .313 with 37 runs, eight doubles, nine home runs, 36 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 53 total games. Miles led the OVC and ranked sixth nationally in runs (63 total, 1.17/game) while hitting .385 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 48 RBI for the top scoring offense nationally. Thomasson also played a big part in that offense, smashing 22 home runs which is just one off the national lead; the senior ranks first nationally in total bases (169), second in slugging (.748) and third in RBI (1.30/game). The team also included two second basemen (due to a tie in voting) in Jacksonville State senior
Eddie Mora-Loera (.323, 63 hits, 14 doubles, 33 RBI) and Murray State junior
Anthony Bayus (.327, 65 hits, 15 doubles, 31 RBI). The infield was completed by Tennessee Tech junior shortstop
Dylan Bosheers who moved up from the second-team a year ago; Bosheers hit .369 (seventh in the league) with 80 hits, 62 runs, 13 doubles, 10 home runs and 49 RBI. Southeast Missouri senior
Derek Gibson appeared on the first-team for the second time in his career after also being awarded that honor in 2012; Gibson ranked sixth nationally in batting average (.411) while ranking first nationally in sacrifice flies (11). The outfield also included Morehead State junior
Brandon Rawe, a candidate for the Gregg Olson Breakout Player of the Year Award; Rawe enters the postseason ranked third nationally in hits (94) and has a .400 batting average to go along with 20 doubles, 10 home runs and 46 RBI. Eastern Kentucky senior
Bryan Soloman was the selection at designated hitter after smashing 14 home runs to go along with 55 RBI and a .612 slugging percentage. Austin Peay freshman
Ridge Smith, who saw action at third base, outfield and designated hitter during his rookie campaign, was the first-team utility pick after hitting .310 with 15 doubles, six home runs, 44 RBI and 11 stolen bases. SIUE junior
Ryan Daniels joined Downey and Hayes as the first-team starting pitcher selection; Daniels compiled a 7-0 record and 3.36 E.R.A. to go along with four complete games in 91.0 innings of work. Jacksonville State junior closer
Travis Stout, a second-team pick a year ago, led the OVC with 11 saves while also adding a 3-0 record and 1.39 E.R.A. in 32.1 innings of work.
The second-team had four players who were repeat selections from last season in Tennessee Tech senior first baseman
Zach Stephens (.277, 49 runs, 17 home runs, 53 RBI while setting OVC career records for home runs and RBI), Tennessee Tech senior second baseman
Zach Zarzour (.336, 76 hits, 50 runs, 17 doubles, 36 RBI), Eastern Illinois junior third baseman
Brant Valach (.333, 45 hits, six doubles, five home runs and 39 RBI after missing the first part of the season with an injury) and Eastern Illinois junior outfielder
Caleb Howell (the third-best batting average nationally at .423, 90 hits, 50 runs, 31 RBI). The squad also included three other players who had previously been All-Freshman selections and moved up to the second-team in Tennessee Tech junior pitcher
David Hess (8-3, 3.54 E.R.A., 91 strikeouts), Jacksonville State senior shortstop
Andrew Bishop (.317, 64 hits, 13 doubles, 32 RBI) and Jacksonville State designated hitter
Paschal Petrongolo (.306, 60 hits, 15 doubles, seven triples, 46 RBI). Also on the squad were Morehead State junior catcher
Chris Robinson, Jacksonville State senior outfielder
Griff Gordon, SIUE senior outfielder
Devin Caldwell, Belmont junior outfielder
Drew Ferguson, Eastern Illinois senior utility player
Tyler Schweigert, Austin Peay's Robles (the Freshman of the Year), Belmont junior pitcher
Austin Coley and Eastern Illinois senior closer
Troy Barton. The All-OVC second-team included seven seniors, six juniors, a sophomore and a freshman.
Seven of the 11 OVC baseball squads had at least one representative on the All-Freshman Team, which was awarded for the ninth time in 2014. The 13-member team was highlighted by Robles, the League's Rookie of the Year, and Smith, his teammate who was a first-team All-OVC pick; the duo was joined by teammate
Cayce Bredlau (outfield). The team had four selections from Eastern Kentucky in first baseman
Ben Fisher, outfielders
Taylor Blair and
Shea Sullivan and pitcher
Caleb Johnson. The team was rounded out by Morehead State pitcher
Luke Humphreys, Murray State catcher/designated hitter
Tyler Lawrence, SIUE designated hitter
Keaton Wright, Tennessee Tech pitchers
Kyle Keatts and
Evan Fraliex and UT Martin designated hitter
Ben Upton.
2014 All-OVC Baseball Teams
OVC Player of the Year: Matt Tellor, Southeast Missouri
OVC Co-Pitcher of the Year: Brock Downey, Murray State
OVC Co-Pitcher of the Year: Travis Hayes, Southeast Missouri
OVC Rookie of the Year: Alex Robles, Austin Peay
OVC Coach of the Year: Steve Bieser, Southeast Missouri
ALL-OVC FIRST TEAM
C - Sean Hagen, Eastern Kentucky
1B - Matt Tellor, Southeast Missouri
2B - Eddie Mora-Loera, Jacksonville State
2B - Anthony Bayus, Murray State
SS - Dylan Bosheers, Tennessee Tech
3B - Daniel Miles, Tennessee Tech
OF - Derek Gibson, Southeast Missouri
OF - Brandon Thomasson, Tennessee Tech
OF - Brandon Rawe, Morehead State
DH - Bryan Soloman, Eastern Kentucky
UT - Ridge Smith, Austin Peay
SP - Brock Downey, Murray State
SP - Ryan Daniels, SIUE
SP - Travis Hayes, Southeast Missouri
RP - Travis Stout, Jacksonville State
ALL-OVC SECOND TEAM
C - Chris Robinson, Morehead State
1B - Zach Stephens, Tennessee Tech
2B - Zach Zarzour, Tennessee Tech
SS - Andrew Bishop, Jacksonville State
3B - Brant Valach, Eastern Illinois
OF - Caleb Howell, Eastern Illinois
OF - Griff Gordon, Jacksonville State
OF - Devin Caldwell, SIUE
OF - Drew Ferguson, Belmont
DH - Paschal Petrongolo, Jacksonville State
UT - Tyler Schweigert, Eastern Illinois
SP - David Hess, Tennessee Tech
SP - Austin Coley, Belmont
SP - Alex Robles, Austin Peay
RP - Troy Barton, Eastern Illinois
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
P/UT - Alex Robles, Austin Peay
OF - Cayce Bredlau, Austin Peay
UTIL - Ridge Smith, Austin Peay
1B - Ben Fisher, Eastern Kentucky
OF - Taylor Blair, Eastern Kentucky
OF - Shea Sullivan, Eastern Kentucky
RHP - Caleb Johnson, Eastern Kentucky
RHP - Luke Humphreys, Morehead State
C/DH - Tyler Lawrence, Murray State
DH/IF - Keaton Wright, SIUE
RHP - Kyle Keatts, Tennessee Tech
RHP - Evan Fraliex, Tennessee Tech
DH - Ben Upton, UT Martin
Note: There are two 2B's on the first-team and four OF's on the second-team due to ties in voting.