University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Best, Maddox Named Preseason All-American
1/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 3, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss senior closer Daniel Best and senior first baseman Marc Maddox were named third team Preseason All-American today by the Rosenblatt Report, a collegiate baseball web site.
This is the third preseason All-American honor for Best, who was tabbed third team preseason All-American by Louisville Slugger selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper and a first team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association of America.
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.
Maddox, a preseason nominee for the Brooks Wallace Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate baseball player, was a first team All-Conference USA selection in 2005. He led Southern Miss with a .359 batting average, 153 total bases, 44 walks, 15 stolen bases and 74 runs scored last season, ranking second in hits (92), home runs (14) and RBI (59). Maddox, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., was a Conference USA Co-Scholar Athlete of the year last season, and was also an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection.
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.
