July 19, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After tearing up the New England Collegiate Baseball League through his first 25 games, Kentucky sophomore infielder Paul McConkey has been named an all-star starter, it was announced.

McConkey has earned his second consecutive NECBL All-Star accolade, with the game set for July 22. McConkey, who was a NECBL All-Star in 2011, will serve as the starting designated hitter for the West Division.

A native of Knoxville, Tenn., and a product of Halls High School, McConkey has tore up the NECBL all summer, batting .356 with 11 doubles, two homers and 19 RBI.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound left-handed hitter has excelled with the Holyoke Blue Sox, ranking eighth in the league in average and hits (36) and second in doubles. McConkey owns a .405 on-base percentage and is slugging at a .525 clip. He has added three steals and has committed just one error on the summer.

McConkey emerged late in the 2012 season as an impact bat in the UK lineup. He hit .323 (10-for-31) in 20 games, totaling a double and two RBI. With UK looking for an offensive spark late during its school-record 45 win season in 2012, McConkey made a pair of starts against No. 4 Florida on May 4 and vs. Alabama during the final home weekend, collecting 2-for-3 games in each contest.

In the NCAA Tournament, McConkey made three starts as the designated hitter and came off the bench in the 21-inning marathon. In the 21-inning game, McConkey came to the plate in the 18th inning with UK trailing by a run and twice launched drives down the rightfield line that just missed the foul pole as the game-tying homer.