Best Named Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American
12/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 29, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss senior pitcher Daniel Best was selected third team preseason All-American by Louisville Slugger, selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper today.
This marks the second preseason All-American honor for Best, who was tabbed first team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association of American on Dec. 13.
Best was a NCBWA second-team All-American last season, a ABCA All-South selection and one of the five finalists for the inaugural Stopper of the Year Award, given to the nation's top closer.
The Ruston, La., native allowed just two earned runs in 39 innings pitched (0.46 ERA) in 2005. Best posted a record of 3-0 and saved 11 games over 30 appearances, while striking out 37 batters and walking only seven. He held opponents to a .229 batting average.
Southern Miss finished its season with a 41-21 overall record, earning the school's third consecutive 40-win season, a school record. The Golden Eagles also earned a bid to an NCAA Regional for the third-straight season, also a school record.
The Golden Eagles return 20 letterwinners, including five starting position players, four starting pitchers, and five bullpen pitchers from last year's squad that finished 41-21 overall and tied for second-place in Conference USA, advanced to the Conference USA Tournament semifinals and also to its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Golden Eagles have produced a 133-56 record over the past three seasons for a 70.4 winning percentage.
Southern Miss opens its season on Feb. 15 when it hosts Nicholls State in a 3 p.m., start.
Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American First Team
RHP Dallas Buck, Oregon St.
LHP Andrew Miller, North Carolina
RHP Max Scherzer, Missouri
RHP Joba Chamberlain, Nebraska
RHP Kyle McCulloch, Texas
RHP Ian Kennedy, Southern California
Relief Brett Jensen, Nebraska
C Chad Tracy, Pepperdine
1B Matt LaPorta, Florida
2B Taylor Harbin, Clemson
3B Wes Hodges, Georgia Tech.
SS Jay Heafner, Davidson
OF Shane Robinson, Florida St.
OF Drew Stubbs, Texas
OF Nathan Southard, Tulane
DH Chris Carlson, New Mexico
UT Joe Savery, Rice
Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American Second Team
RHP Mickey Storey, Florida Atlantic
LHP Nick Hill, Army
LHP Scott Reese, Creighton
RHP Luke Trubee, Dayton
RHP Johnny Dorn, Nebraska
RHP Jonah Nickerson, Oregon St.
RHP Adrian Alaniz, Texas
Relief Blair Erickson, U.C. Irvine
Relief Kevin Gunderson, Oregon St.
C Jeff Kunkel, Michigan
C J.P. Arencibia, Tennessee
1B Matt Rizzotti, Manhattan
1B Luke Hopkins, New Mexico St.
2B Jordan Pacheco, New Mexico
3B Chris Coghlan, Mississippi
SS Josh Rodriguez, Rice
OF Mark Wright, Mississippi
OF Jon Jay, Miami (Fla.)
OF John Raynor, N.C. Wilmington
UT Heath Rollins, Winthrop
Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American Third Team
RHP Kenn Kasparek, Texas
RHP Eddie Degerman, Rice
RHP Blake Wood, Georgia Tech.
LHP Clay Dirks, Louisiana St.
RHP Tim Lincecum, Washington
RHP Tim Bascom, Central Florida
LHP Keith Weiser, Miami (Ohio)
LHP James Adkins, Tennessee
RHP Daniel Bard, North Carolina
Relief Daniel Best, Southern Miss.
Relief Tyler Chambliss, Florida St.
Relief Vinnie Pestano, Cal. St. Fullerton
Relief Darren O'Day, Florida
Relief Paul Koss, Southern California
C Jordan Newton, Western Kentucky
C Michael Ambort, Lamar
1B Justin Baum, Pacific
1B Aaron Bates, North Carolina St.
1B Mike Priest, Campbell
1B Aaron Grijalva, Liberty
1B Chris Johnson, Stetson
2B Jim Negrych, Pittsburgh
2B Chris Campbell, Charleston
2B Scott Sizemore, Va. Commonwealth
3B Evan Longoria, Long Beach St.
3B Brad Emaus, Tulane
3B Derek Schermerhorn, Wichita St.
3B Beau Mills, Fresno St.
3B Matt Poulk, N.C. Wilmington
SS Mitch Hilligoss, Purdue
SS Chuck Hargis, East Tennessee St.
OF Brennan Boesch, California
OF Mike McBryde, Florida Atlantic
OF Shane Byrne, East Tennessee St.
OF Jeremy Jones, North Carolina A&T
UT Matt Wieters, Georgia Tech.
