DeLand, Fla. ? The Atlantic Sun Conference office announced Tuesday that Stetson standout Jeremy Cruz (Miami, Fla.) has been voted the 2009 Conference Player of the Year. Joining Cruz on the All-Conference first team is shortstop Casey Frawley (New Haven, Ct.). Designated Hitter Aaron Crittenden (Fort Myers, Fla.) was named to the league's second team. The league's head coaches and sports information directors are responsible for selecting the all-conference teams.
Heading into the A-Sun tournament Cruz, the league's Preseason Player of the Year leads the conference, and is in the Top-5 in the nation in RBI with 80. He is also first in total bases (162), second in hits (89), third in home runs (18) and runs scored (62), and fourth in batting (.397). His 18 home runs tie him for the all-time Stetson record for round trippers in a season.
Frawley was voted as the first team shortstop for the second consecutive season. He is currently second in the A-Sun in plate appearances (280), and third in at bats (235) and runs scored (60). He leads the team in triples (3) and is third in hits (77) and home runs (10). Frawley is a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases.
Crittenden came on strong late in the season to earn his spot on the second team. He is second in the A-Sun behind Cruz in RBI (66) and eighth in home runs (13). He is also ninth in the league in batting average with the bases loaded (.700). He is fourth on the team in batting at .344 and third in runs scored (46).
In addition, Stetson showed its potential in the near future by placing four players on this season's Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman team. Mark Jones (Palm Coast, Fla.), Nick Rickles (Loxahatchee, Fla.), Ryan Sweat (Debary, Fla.) and Lindsey Caughel (Orlando, Fla.) were all voted to the team.
Jones is third on the team in hitting (.360) and second in hits (80). He has not dipped below .340 the entire season. Rickles, the team's starting catcher has played in all 56 games this season. He is second among A-Sun catchers in runners thrown out stealing (19). Sweat made 20 appearances on the mound with seven starts. He is second on the team in wins and tops in winning percentage with a 4-1 record (.750). Caughel has played the role of #3 starting pitcher since the conference season began. He has a 4-3 record and is third on the team in strike outs with 41.
