Sooners Place Four On All-Big 12 Conference Baseball Team

May 27, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - Sooner second baseman Eddie Cornejo, center fielder Reggie Willits and relievers Casey Brown and Jarod McAuliff each captured All-Big 12 Conference baseball honors after finishing among the league leaders throughout the 2003 season. As announced by the Big 12 offices on Monday, Cornejo was chosen as the first team second baseman, while Willits and McAuliff both nabbed second team accolades and Brown secured honorable mention honors. It marked Cornejo's second career all-conference distinction after receiving honorable mention honors following his junior campaign. The second-team honors marked the first all-league recognition for Brown, McAuliff and Willits.

A unanimous selection by the coaches at second base, Cornejo established himself as one of the league's toughest outs at the plate throughout the Big 12 season. At the end of the regular season, Cornejo ranked second in the league in hitting overall and in conference games only with both averages hovering around the .400 mark. The Mira Loma City, Calif., native, also ranked among the conference's top 10 individual performers in on base percentage, hits and walks. For the week of April 28, he was named the conference's Co-Player of the Week after batting at an .800 clip during a pivotal league series against Texas Tech.

Willits earned his first all-conference honor after proving to be one of the best hitters and fastest players in the league. He finished the regular season as the conference's stolen base leader and, after ranking towards the top in batting for most of the year, he finished tied for 11th in hitting in the league. Like Cornejo, the Fort Cobb, Okla., native, also ranked in the top 10 in several other Big 12 categories including on base percentage, runs scored and walks.

Despite the Sooners' 23-31 season, McAuliff, OU's sophomore relief ace, factored into much of the team's success throughout the year. McAuliff received a decision in nearly half of Oklahoma's wins this season as he successfully closed out nine games and picked up the win in two more. McAuliff's nine saves were good enough for a tie for second in the league in the category entering last weekend's Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament. He was also one of the Big 12's leaders in appearances as his 35 outings not only led the Big 12, but also left him one appearance shy of the school's single-season mark.

Although he missed most of the first half of the year while rehabbing from shoulder surgery, Brown made an immediate impact upon his return during Big 12 play. Seven of his 11 appearances came against Big 12 Conference competition as he posted a 2-0 record and fanned 18 batters in 21 innings of work. Brown's pair of wins came in two of OU's most important conference series late in the season as the Sooners rattled off wins in eight of their last 11 league contests to clinch a conference tournament berth. The Stigler, Okla., native, posted back-to-back wins over in-state rival Oklahoma State and Texas Tech during Oklahoma's string of five straight Big 12 victories.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Place Four On All-Big 12 Conference Baseball Team

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors