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Mike McKenna Named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year
5/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 21, 2008
LAFAYETTE, LA - Florida Atlantic University senior outfielder Mike McKenna was named the 2008 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. McKenna was presented with the award Monday on `Family Night' at M.L. `Tigue' Field on the campus of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and the site of this week's 2008 Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament.
McKenna, a product of Staten Island, New York, was also among three outfielders to be named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team. He put together an outstanding regular season in which hit .404, with 16 home runs and 74 RBI. He had entered the season as the league's top returning hitter, having batted .413 as a junior in 2007.
Among all Division I players McKenna ranks fifth in RBI (74), 15th in total bases (146), 23rd in home runs (16) and 41st in runs scored (59).
He was twice named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week during the course of the 2008 season and garnered national player of the week honors from numerous college baseball publications after a seven-homer, 19-RBI week in late March.
Immediately following the awards ceremony Monday night in Lafayette, McKenna starred in the league's home run derby which featured one player from each of the eight participating SBC teams at the tournament. McKenna led all players with seven homers, hitting a number of mammoth drives over the left field fence.
FAU's Nick Arata was also recognized Monday night. The junior shortstop was named a Second Team All-Sun Belt player. Arata entered postseason play having doubled his RBI and home run totals from a year ago. He finished the regular season hitting .376. Arata had also garnered SBC Player of the Week honors earlier in the season and his 12 home runs ranks as one of the best power-hitting seasons in school history from the shortstop position.
First Team All-Sun Belt
SP Bryan Cryer (New Orleans, Sr., SP)
SP Hunter Moody (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., SP)
RP Josh Storm (Troy, Jr., RP)
C Robert Taylor (UALR, Sr., C)
1B Rawley Bishop (Middle Tennessee, Jr., 1B)
2B Ryan Mollica (Florida International, Jr., 2B)
SS Ben Soignier (ULM, Jr., SS)
3B Zach Barrett (Middle Tennessee, Sr., 3B)
OF Mike McKenna (Florida Atlantic, Sr. Outfield)
OF Dexter Fontenot (ULM, Sr., Outfield)
OF Bryan Miller (Troy, Sr., Outfield)
DH Chad Cregar (WKU, Jr., DH)
Utility Jeff Lanning (New Orleans, Jr., Utility)
Second Team All-Sun Belt
SP Matt Ridings (WKU, So., SP)
SP Chase Ware (Arkansas State, Jr., SP)
RP Ryan O'Shea (New Orleans, Jr., RP)
C Beau Brooks (Troy, Jr., C)
1B Nick Schwaner (New Orleans, So.,1B)
2B Kyle Suire (ULM, Sr., 2B)
Johnny Giavotella (New Orleans, Jr., 2B)
SS Nick Arata (Florida Atlantic, Jr., SS)
3B Wade Gaynor (WKU, So., 3B)
OF Matt Apfel (UALR, Jr., Outfield)
OF Joey Butler (New Orleans, Sr., Outfield)
OF Ray Kruml (South Alabama, Sr., Outfield)
DH Bryce Brentz (Middle Tennessee, Fr., DH)
Utility Ryan McMillan (ULM, Jr., Utility)
Michael Precise (Troy, Jr., Utility)
Player of the Year: Mike McKenna (Florida Atlantic, Sr. Outfield)
Pitcher of the Year: Bryan Cryer (New Orleans, Sr., SP)
Newcomer of the Year: Chad Cregar (WKU, Jr., DH)
Freshman of the Year: Bryce Brentz (Middle Tennessee, Fr., DH)
Ron Maestri Coach of the Year: Jeff Schexnaider (Louisiana-Monroe)
Players Mentioned
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