LEXINGTON ? Kentucky junior Ryan Strieby has been named the District III Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, it was announced Friday.

The award joins numerous others in Strieby?s trophy case this year. The Brier, Wash., native has also been tabbed as the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, as well as a first-team All-American by the College Baseball Foundation and Louisville Slugger. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Detroit Tigers earlier this week in the Major League Baseball Draft.

For the season, Strieby led Kentucky in batting with a .343 average while slugging 20 home runs and setting the school record with 77 RBIs. He led the SEC in RBIs, doubles (22), on-base percentage (.473) and slugging percentage (.704).

With Strieby anchoring the lineup, Kentucky had one of the most explosive offenses in the country, averaging more than 8.2 runs per game. He paced an extra-hit barrage that ranked in the top five in the country in home runs, doubles and slugging percentage.

District III includes all teams from the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.