Chris Shehan Named SoCon 'Player of the Year' by SCSMA
5/20/2008 4:12:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Georgia Southern’s Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) was named SoCon ?Player of the Year’ as voted on by the Southern Conference Sports Media Association. Shehan was one of three Eagles honored by the SCSMA, the first conference honor for all three.
Shehan is the only SoCon representative among the 16 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Award honoring the ?National Player of the Year’. He becomes the fifth Eagle to be named SoCon ?Player of the Year’, joining: Matt Easterday (2000), Tommy Peterman (1996), Steve Wilson (1995) and Todd Greene (1993).
His .434 batting average and 79 runs scored both lead the SoCon while he ranks fourth in RBI (70), fifth in doubles (20), fourth in home runs (20), second in total bases (173) and fifth in stolen bases (22). The junior outfielder became just the second Eagle ever to record 20 home runs/20 stolen bases in program history. Shehan, an ESPN the Magazine Third Team Academic All-District selection, owns a .816 slugging and .554 on-base percentage.
Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) was tabbed as First Team designated hitter. In his first year with the Eagles, Wright has made an immediate impact batting .396 with a team-leading 21 doubles, 16 home runs, 60 runs scored and 48 RBI. His six leadoff home runs set a program season record.
Entering the SoCon Tournament, Wright is tied for second in the league in doubles and tied for ninth among the GS season ?Top 10’. Featured this week in Sports Illustrated, Wright hit for the cycle in consecutive innings last month in a win at Wofford.
Junior pitcher Drew Murray (LaGrange/LaGrange) was selected Second Team as a starting pitcher. Murray owns an 8-1 record and 6.59 ERA having started in all 13 appearances. He leads the pitching staff with 65 strikeouts in 72.1 innings pitched. Murray posted a 7-1 record in league play.
The fourth-seeded Eagles (32-23 overall) opens SoCon Tournament play Wednesday (May 21) against fifth-seed UNC Greensboro. Game time will be either 5 or 8 p.m. at Riley Park in Charleston, South Carolina.
