Eight Sooners Named To All-Big 12 Baseball Team

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma baseball team tied its program high with eight All-Big 12 selections as this year's all-conference team was announced on Monday by the league office.

The Sooners, who also had eight All-Big 12 picks in 1998, had two first team picks, four second team honorees and two honorable mention selections . Junior first baseman Ole Sheldon, a second team all-conference selection, also brought home OU's second Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award. The all-conference team was selected by a vote from the league's 10 head coaches.

Sophomore Russell Raley was credited with his first all-conference pick as he was voted as the league's first team second baseman. Also receiving first team recognition for the first time in his career was junior relief pitcher Jarod McAuliff. McAuliff was a second team honoree last year.

NCAA Baseball Regional in Oklahoma City

Joining Sheldon on the second team was junior designated hitter Eric Thornton, senior starting pitcher Mark Roberts and junior starting pitcher David Purcey.

Receiving honorable mention accolades were sophomore shortstop Ryan Rohlinger and junior relief pitcher Daniel McCutchen.

Sheldon, a two-time Big 12 Co-Player of the Week recipient this season, received OU's only other Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award since 2001 when it was awarded to former Sooner Greg Dobbs. The junior first baseman made one of the biggest offensive impacts on his team as well as in the conference by finishing in the top five of five conference games only offensive categories. He led the league in hits, finished second in batting average and doubles, fourth in RBI and was tied for fifth in runs scored.

Raley kept the first team second base honors in Oklahoma's posession after former Sooner Eddie Cornejo picked up the honors just last year. Offensively, the Uvalde, Texas, native finished second in the Big 12 in runs scored, was tied for fifth in hits and ended the conference season 15th in batting average.

McAuliff continued to dominate the conference as one of the Big 12's best closers this year after making a name for himself in the role a year ago. He went 4-1 with three saves and a 3.86 ERA in Big 12 play and also made two starts. His appearances, saves and ERA totals ranked among the league leaders at the conclusion of the regular season. He was awarded Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week honors for earning two wins and a save during the Baylor series.

Roberts and Purcey ranked as two of the top two performing pitchers in the conference all season long. Both hurlers were regularly listed among the league's leaders in several categories including wins, strikeouts, ERA, opponent batting average, innings pitched and starts. Each was awarded honors by the league office for Big 12 Pitcher of the Week this year.

Thornton, Rohlinger and McCutchen both made immediate impressions on the Big 12 in their first seasons. Thornton, a Big 12 Player of the Week honoree earlier this season, finished second on the team in hitting in conference play with a .338 batting average which ranked 17th among the league leaders. He also went deep for three home runs in Big 12 games only.

Rohlinger batted .308 in conference play and ranked tied for third in runs scored. Two of his four home runs in Big 12 action accounted for game-winning shots (against Baylor and Texas A&M).

McCutchen posted a 2-2 record with three saves and a 2.86 ERA in conference games only. He ranked among the top 10 pitchers in the league in appearances, saves, ERA and opponent batting average.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Eight Sooners Named To All-Big 12 Baseball Team

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