Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
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McKenry Voted First Team All-American
6/20/2006 10:12:00 AM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee junior Michael McKenry has been voted a First Team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association, announced by the ABCA on Monday.
McKenry is the program's first First Team All-America selection since Dewon Brazelton in 2001 and only the second First Team All-American in school history.
"I'm a little surprised, but it's great news. It's a goal I've always wanted to achieve. It's awesome," McKenry said.
"The biggest thing about all this is I couldn't have done it without God's grace and without the coaches and my teammates," McKenry said. "They were with me the whole way. I want to give them a big thank you."
McKenry, taken 198th overall by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round in the Major League Baseball First-Year Amatuer Player Draft, was Middle Tennessee's highest draft selection since Brazelton in the first round in 2001. He was the first junior taken and signed by the professional ranks since Brett Carroll and Chris Mobley were both selected by the Florida Marlins in 2004.
McKenry, a Farragut High School product, batted .390 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs and 68 RBIs in 2006, earning First Team All-Sun Belt and Third Team All-America honors by Collegiate Baseball-Louisville Slugger. McKenry added 82 hits, 42 runs scored, 38 walks, a .494 on-base percentage and a .676 slugging percentage in 55 games. The junior catcher also threw out 41 percent of potential base stealers.
McKenry began the 2006 campaign on the Wallace Watch List, one of the national player of the year awards, and was later a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, another national player of the year honor, and the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation's top catcher.
McKenry was a First Team All-Sun Belt selection in 2005 after belting 13 home runs and 42 RBIs in 49 games as a sophomore. He batted .328 with 11 doubles and 44 runs scored last season as well.
The Knoxville, Tenn., native was scheduled to make his professional debut Monday night for the Tri-City Dust Devils in Pasco, Wash., and the Northwest League against the Everett AquaSox.
"This is a great honor for Michael and I'm very proud of him," said Middle Tennessee head coach Steve Peterson. "He's an All-American, on and off the field.
"His shoes will be hard to fill, but he'll motivate those who will follow. He's part of the line of great catchers we've had here. Now we'll all be watching him closely as he continues his career as a professional."
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