Three Sea Gulls named D3baseball.com Preseason All-Americans
MINNEAPOLIS - The 2009 D3baseball.com Preseason All-American Team was released by the Web site on Friday and the Salisbury University baseball team had three players honored, the most in the nation. Senior second baseman Randy Boyle highlights the group as he was selected to the first team. Sophomore Andrew Miller was honored as a second team member and senior right-handed pitcher Eric Willey was named to the honorable mention list.
Boyle, who enters his senior season at Salisbury, put together a very impressive campaign last year. The All-South Region second team performer reached base in 44 straight games for the Sea Gulls and had a nation best 35-game hit streak to begin the season. The Jarrettsville, Md., native finished the season with a .403 batting average where he led the team in hits (73), runs scored (68), stolen bases (16) and was tied for the lead in doubles (16). Boyle ranked third in Division III for runs scored. He was also named to the All-Capital Athletic Conference first team.
Miller is coming off of an outstanding freshman campaign where he was named a D3baseball.com All-American honorable mention, an All-South Region second team honoree and an All-CAC first team performer. The Schwenksville, Pa., native filled in at the catcher position down the stretch for the Sea Gulls and served as a valuable designated hitter for last year's squad. The sophomore led the team in batting average (.415), on base percentage (.537), triples (two) and walks (34). Miller was second in total bases (101), stolen bases (11), runs scored (57), hits (66) and third on the team in RBI (52), home runs (six) while fourth in doubles (13).
Willey returns for his senior year after he emerged as the ace of the '08 pitching rotation. The right-hander posted an 11-1 record, 2.65 ERA and struck out 86 batters in 102 innings pitched. His wins and strikeouts were third and 15th in the nation, respectively. He was named as a D3baseball.com All-American (second team), an American Baseball Coaches Association All-American (third team) and an All-South Region and All-CAC first team selection. The Cambridge, Md., product led the team in wins, strikeouts, saves (three), appearances (19), games started (14), innings pitched and complete games (five).
There are 33 players on the D3baseball.com Preseason All-American Teams. The Sea Gulls will square off in the regular season with many of the names on the list including Johns Hopkins University outfielder Brian Youchak (first team), SUNY Cortland pitcher Matt Tone (second team) and Christopher Newport shortstop Trae Bailey (honorable mention).
This is the second year D3baseball.com has come out with a Preseason All-American list. The trio marks the first players in SU baseball history to be named as D3baseball.com Preseason All-Americans.
Salisbury begins its '09 campaign on the road Saturday, February 7, at Noon against Virginia Wesleyan College. The Sea Gulls and Marlins split the season series last season, 1-1.
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