For the first time in 18 years, the Kentucky baseball team capped off its historic season ranked 20th in the final BaseballAmerica poll of the season. Kentucky finished the 2006 season with a school-record 44 wins and earned the first Southeastern Conference Championship in school history.
Kentucky?s last final top-25 ranking came in 1988, capping off a 38-22 season which saw the Wildcats earn a then school-best 18 games in the SEC. UK finished the 1988 season ranked 14th.
The Wildcats had the best season in the 102-year history of Kentucky baseball, rewriting the record books and hosting a NCAA Regional Tournament at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky was powered by an explosive offensive philosophy which translated into the Wildcats scoring a school-record 500 runs and blasting 99 home runs.
Trophy Cases Getting Full
The accolades have piled up thus far for the Wildcats, beginning when head coach John Cohen was named SEC Coach of the Year after leading Kentucky to the biggest turnaround in the history of SEC baseball. Cohen led Kentucky to the first worst-to-first turnaround in SEC history, generating an excitement among the fan base which translated to a 453 percent increase in attendance.
Ryan Strieby earned SEC Player of the Year recognition after leading Kentucky?s explosive offense in nine categories and breaking the school record for RBIs with 77. Strieby has tallied five All-American awards and was honored as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association District III Player of the Year.
Two other Wildcats were honored with All-SEC nods, second basemen John Shelby and catcher Sean Coughlin. Shelby pounded out 18 home runs and 18 doubles en route to being tabbed second-team All-SEC. Coughlin also earned second-team All-SEC honors in addition to being named a third-team Pro-Line Cap/NCBWA All-American. Coughlin led all SEC catchers with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Pitcher Greg Dombrowski and outfielder Collin Cowgill have also been recognized nationally, being named second-team All-South Region. Dombrowski notched the best season for a UK pitcher in 20 years, winning 10 games and posting a 2.83 ERA. Cowgill finished the season with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs while playing in all 61 games.
