Brown And Clark Tabbed All-Americans By Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
May 25, 2001 | Baseball
May 25, 2001
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama baseball team placed two players on the 2001 Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I All-American baseball team in announcement by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Friday.
Alabama senior first baseman Aaron Clark and junior catcher Jeremy Brown were named Third-Team selections on the Louisville Slugger Division I All-American team.
In 55 games this season, Clark batted .333 with an SEC-leading 20 home runs and 71 RBI. He also ranked among the league leaders in runs scored (66), doubles (15), slugging percentage (.708), on-base percentage (.445) and walks (40). Clark also led all SEC first basemen with a .996 fielding percentage, committing only two errors in 505 total chances this season.
Brown appeared in 51 games for the Crimson Tide and posted a team-leading .363 average with 10 home runs and 48 RBI. He reached base safely in 50 of the 51 games this season and did not commit an error in 330 total chances, tying the single-season record for highest fielding percentage.
Clark and Brown were also First-Team All-SEC selections this season. Brown, who holds the Alabama career record with 138 walks, is one of the 10 semi-finalists for the 2001 Johnny Bench Award, given to the best catcher in college baseball.
Southern California right-hander Mark Prior was named the Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. A potential first-round pick in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft, Prior posted a 13-1 record and 1.49 ERA for the third-ranked Trojans, with five complete games. In addition, Prior struck out 166 batters and walked only 17.
The Southeastern Conference placed six players on the Collegiate Baseball All-American teams, including SEC Player of the Year, Chris Burke. The Tennessee shortstop batted .452 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI. Joining Burke on the first-team is South Carolina closer Lee Gronkiewicz, who leads the nation with 16 saves.
Joining Clark and Brown on the third-team is LSU pitcher Lance Mestepey and Georgia relief ace Jeffrey Carswell.
The following are the first, second and third team Louisville Slugger All-Americans for the 2001 season.The 18-man first team, chosen by performances up to regional playoffs and picked by the staff of "Collegiate Baseball" newspaper, features 11 conference players or pitchers of the year, including:
* RHP Mark Prior, Southern California (Pac-10 Pitcher of Year)
* RHP Justin Pope, Central Florida (Trans America Player o of Year)
* RHP Dewon Brazelton, Middle Tennessee St. (Sun Belt Pitcher of Year)
* RHP Aaron Heilman, Notre Dame (Big East Pitcher of Year)
* RHP Kirk Saarloos, Cal. St. Fullerton (Big West Pitcher of Year)
* RHP Shane Komine, Nebraska (Big 12 Pitcher of Year)
* C Kelly Shoppach, Baylor (Big 12 Player of Year)
* 1B John VanBenschoten, Kent St. (Mid-American Player of Year)
* SS Chris Burke, Tennessee (Southeastern Player of Year)
* OF Ryan Brunner, Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley Player of Year)
* OF Jason Law, Monmouth (Northeast Player of Year)
The first team features six starting pitchers who posted a combined 79-6 record with an ERA of 1.95. Southern California's Mark Prior leads the first team pitchers with 166 strikeouts.
The offense features power, line drive hitters and speed. The first team belted 190 homers (average 17.2 per player). Seven hit 18 or more doubles this season. As far as speed, four players swiped 22 or more bases led by Tennessee's Chris Burke with 42.
The first team also features "Collegiate Baseball's" National Player of The Year in RHP Mark Prior of Southern California. Prior posted a glistening 13-1 record prior to regional competition with a 1.49 ERA. Even more amazing is that he struck out 166 batters and only walked 17.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder, who is expected to be the first college player taken in the upcoming June draft, recorded 10 or more strikeouts in a game 10 times this season. All-Americans for the 2001 season.
FIRST TEAM
RHP - Mark Prior, Southern California (13-1, 1.49 ERA, 5 CG, 166 K, 17 BB)
RHP - Justin Pope, Central Florida (14-1, 1.34 ERA, 5 CG, 150 K, 21 BB)
RHP - Dewon Brazelton, Middle Tennessee St. (13-1, 1.44 ERA, 10 CG, 148 K,
22 BB)
RHP - Aaron Heilman, Notre Dame (14-0, 1.54 ERA, 11 CG, 103 K, 27 BB)
RHP - Kirk Saarloos, Cal. St. Fullerton (13-2, 2.26 ERA, 7 CG, 137 K, 20 BB)
RHP - Shane Komine, Nebraska (12-1, 3.63 ERA, 5 CG, 127 K, 31 BB)
Relief - Lee Gronkiewicz, South Carolina (16 SV, 1.42 ERA, 62 K, 22 BB)
C - Kelly Shoppach, Baylor (great defense, .399, 20 2B, 11 HR, 66 RBI)
1B - John VanBenschoten, Kent St. (.443, 30 HR, 14 2B, 79 RBI, 22 SB)
2B - Michael Woods, Southern (.469, 27 2B, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 32 SB)
SS - Chris Burke, Tennessee (.452, 18 HR, 21 2B, 42 SB)
3B - Jeff Baker, Clemson (.376, 22 HR, 12 2B, 69 RBI)
OF - John-Ford Griffin, Florida St. (.458, 18 HR, 25 2B, 68 RBI)
OF - Ryan Brunner, Northern Iowa (.377, 24 HR, 18 2B, 81RBI)
OF - Shelley Duncan, Arizona (.338, 24 HR, 78 RBI)
OF - Jason Law, Monmouth (.436, 16 HR, 20 2B, 67 RBI)
DH - Brian Baron, UCLA (.443, 17 2B, 47 RBI)
UT - Cory Sullivan, Wake Forest (.392, 20 2B, 12 HR, 25 SB,6-0 as pitcher,
3.69 ERA)
SECOND TEAM
LHP - Noah Lowry, Pepperdine
RHP - Kenny Baugh, Rice
RHP - Nic Ungs, Northern Iowa
RHP - Mike Rogers, Oral Roberts
RHP - Todd Pennington, S.E. Missouri St.
RHP - Nate Fernley, Brigham Young
Relief - Randy Corn, The Citadel
C - Casey Myers, Arizona St.
C - Chris Shelton, Utah
1B - Dan Johnson, Nebraska
2B - Daniel Uggla, Memphis
SS - Javy Rodriguez, Miami (Fla.)
SS - Andy Cannizaro, Tulane
3B - Jake Gautreau, Tulane
OF - Matt Davis, Virginia Commonwealth
OF - OF Billy McCarthy, Rutgers
OF - Jason Knoedler, Miami (Ohio)
OF - Greg Dobbs, Oklahoma
DH - Jason Brooks, Marshall
UT - Mark Pedersen, Valparaiso
THIRD TEAM
LHP - Willie Collazo, Florida International
RHP - Jason Arnold, Central Florida
RHP - James Garcia, U.C. Santa Barbara
LHP - Scott Nicholson, Oregon St.
RHP - Rik Currier, Southern California
RHP - Jeremy Herauf, Winthrop
RHP - Steve Reba, Clemson
LHP - Lenny DiNardo, Stetson
LHP - Andy Dickinson, Illinois
LHP - Lane Mestepey, Louisiana St.
Relief - Jeff Carswell, Georgia
Relief - Dave Bush, Wake Forest
Relief - Casey Shumaker, Jacksonville
C - Jeremy Brown, Alabama
C - Alex Trezza, SUNY-Stony Brook
1B - Phillip Hartig, The Citadel
1B - Kevin Mitchell, McNeese St.
1B - Aaron Clark, Alabama
1B - Ernie Durazo, Arizona
2B - Ryan Kyes, Ohio
2B - Clemente Bonilla, S.E. Missouri St.
2B - Josh Renick, Middle Tennessee St.
SS - Jeremy Kurella, Central Florida
SS - Bobby Crosby, Long Beach St.
SS - Josh Labandeira, Fresno St.
3B - Jack Hannahan, Minnesota
3B - Kevin Youkilis, Cincinnati
3B - Willie Core, Louisiana-Monroe
OF - John Cole, Nebraska
OF - Gregg Davies, Towson
OF - Chris May, Pennsylvania
UT - Dan Harren, Pepperdine
