Missouri State sophomore righty Tim Clubb and has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year and is one of eight Bears represented on the all-MVC baseball teams, it was announced by the league office Monday.
Joining Clubb on the all-conference first team are outfielder Ben Woodbury, designated hitter Ben Carlson and reliever Matt Frevert. Third baseman Brayden Drake and infielder Chris Playter earned a spot on the second team, while starting pitcher Buddy Baumann and outfielder Nolan Keane received honorable mention nods.
The third MSU pitcher to earn the league’s top honor, Clubb has matched the best start in school history with his 10-0 record, leads the conference with 96 innings pitched and owns a 2.34 ERA. The Eureka, Mo., native pitched at least seven innings in all eight MVC starts, going 7-0 with a 1.99 ERA in league games. His only no decision came at Wichita State, where he left the game with a lead in the ninth inning.
Woodbury, a West Plains native, has started every game in center field for the Bears and leads the team and ranks third in the league with a .393 batting average. The senior’s 86 hits rank ninth in MSU history for a single season, while his 67 singles this year are tied for second-most all-time. He also sits in a tie for third on the team with 43 RBIs.
A sophomore from Topeka, Kan., Carlson tops the MVC with 16 home runs and ranks fourth with a .387 batting average and 63 RBIs. His 16 round-trippers are the most for an MSU player since Ryan Howard hit 18 in 2000.
Frevert is 6-1 this season with seven saves, ranking him third in school history for saves in a season. The Columbia, Mo., product has a 3.09 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 32 innings.
Playter earns a spot on the second team as a utility player. The junior from Raytown has made 26 starts at second base, 18 at shortstop and two at first base this season for the Bears. He is a .291 hitter this year with 34 RBIs and a .968 fielding percentage on the infield.
Keane makes his third all-conference team after hitting .344 with four homers and 38 RBIs. The Kewanee, Ill., native has scored 53 runs, drawn a team-high 40 walks, stolen 11 bases and is perfect in 121 chances in right field. He was an honorable mention pick last season and a first-team choice in 2006.
A sophomore from Rogersville, Baumann is 6-3 with a 4.38 ERA as the Bears’ No. 2 starter. He owns two complete games this season and has struck out 71 batters in 74 innings.
MVC Coaches sorted through nearly 90 nominees for the three teams and four specialty awards. Student-athletes must receive at least two all-conference votes to be named as honorable mention.
