HOOVER, Ala. — Sawyer Carroll and Chris McClendon have been named to the Southeastern Conference All-Tournament Team, marking Kentucky first selections to the team since 1996, the conference office announced Sunday.
Carroll and McClendon are Kentucky?s first All-Tournament Team honorees since Chad Green and Travis Hayes made the list in 1996. Carroll hit .417 (5-for-12) during UK?s three games, scoring four runs, adding two doubles, a triple, and RBI, drawing two walks and notching a sacrifice fly. In all three games, Carroll recorded an extra-base hit, including a lead-off triple in the top of the ninth inning that became the go-ahead run in UK?s loss to Ole Miss in the second round. Carroll, a coaches All-SEC first-team selection, leads the conference in average (.416) and RBI (78). A 6-foot-4, 215 pound right-fielder, Carroll has ripped 21 doubles and a club-high three triples, adding 16 home runs. Carroll?s 78 RBI marks a new Kentucky school record, eclipsing the 77 RBI totaled during Ryan Strieby?s 2006 SEC Player of the Year season. Carroll, who has swiped 12-of-12 bases this year, has added three outfield assists and 40 walks on the year.
McClendon was the selection at third base, hitting .385 (5-for-13) with five RBI and a walk during Kentucky?s three games. McClendon had hits in every game, going 2-for-3 with three RBI in the opening win over No. 29 Alabama and adding a 1-for-5 night in round two, and a 2-for-5 outing vs. the Crimson Tide in the third round. On the year, McClendon is batting .356, with 32 runs, 10 doubles, one triple and three homers, driving in 32 RBI. In 44 games, McClendon has swiped 7-of-10 bases.
UK led the All-SEC first team, placing a league-high four members on the team, the most for UK since 1976. Carroll, Collin Cowgill, Ryan Wilkes and Chris Rusin rounded out the Wildcat honorees.
Kentucky (42-17) tied its best finish ever in the SEC Tournament (t-5th), equaling the 2000 club?s finish. The last time UK won a game in the SEC Tournament was 2000.
2008 SEC Baseball Tournament All-Tournament Team
P Lance Lynn, Ole Miss P Blake Martin, LSU ; Austin Hyatt, Alabama C Alex Avila, Alabama 1B Matt Clark, LSU; Andrew Giobbi, Vanderbilt 2B Ryan Schimph, LSU 3B Chris McClendon, Kentucky SS Ryan Flaherty, Vanderbilt OF Michael Guerrero, Ole Miss OF Jordan Henry, Ole Miss OF Kent Matthes, Alabama; Sawyer Carroll, Kentucky DH Blake Dean, LSU Most Valuable Player Name: Blake Dean School: LSU
UK All-Tournament Selections
1981: Danny Pototsky, 2B 1981: Mike Botkin, OF 1981: Greg Ryle, C 1981: Jeff Keener, P (MVP) 1987: Terry Shumpert, 2B 1988: Vince Castaldo, 2B 1988: Darin Rieman, 3B 1996: Chad Green, OF 1996: Travis Hayres, 3B 2008: Chris McClendon, 3B 2008: Sawyer Carroll, OF
Regional Site Announcement
The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee announced the 16 regional sites for the 62nd annual NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. The 16 regional sites, with host institutions and records through Sunday, May 25, are as follows: Arizona State (45-11), Tempe, Ariz.; Cal State Fullerton (37-18 through Saturday, May 24), Fullerton, Calif.; Coastal Carolina (47-12), Conway, S.C.; Florida St. (48-10), Tallahassee, Fla.; Georgia (35-21-1), Athens, Ga.; Long Beach State (36-19; through Saturday, May 24), Long Beach, Calif.; LSU (43-16-1), Baton Rouge, La.; Miami (Fla.) (47-8); Coral Gables, Fla..; Michigan (45-12), Ann Arbor, Mich.; Nebraska (40-14-1), Lincoln, Neb.; North Carolina (46-12), Chapel Hill, N.C.; North Carolina State (38-20), Raleigh, N.C.; Oklahoma State (42-16), Stillwater, Okla.; Rice (42-13), Houston; Stanford (33-20-2), Stanford, Calif.; Texas A&M (43-16) College Station, Texas. The regional hosted by North Carolina will be played at USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
