Baseball
Michael Choice is the 2008 SLC Freshman of the Year. |
MICHAEL CHOICE NAMED SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
May 20, 2008
ARLINGTON - - After finishing fourth in the Southland Conference with a .374 average, UT Arlington freshman center fielder Michael Choice has been named the 2008 SLC Freshman of the Year. Choice was also a second-team outfielder, the only freshman to be named First-, Second- or Third-Team All-SLC.
In addition to Choice's selection, Mavericks designated hitter Danny Slinkman is a third-team, All-SLC pick. Mavericks senior first baseman David McLeod, the 2008 SLC batting champion, was on the list of players honorably mentioned.
"It's a great honor," said Choice, a day before the Mavericks open first-round play in the 2008 Southland Conference Tournament in Huntsville. "I set a goal at the beginning of the season to work as hard as I could and play my best, and to get recognized like this is gratifying."
Choice played in 48 games this season, collected 71 hits, hit nine doubles, three triples and smacked a team-high seven homers. Choice drove in a team-high 50 runs. He also walked 21 times and had a .563 slugging percentage and .440 on-base average.
Slinkman, a senior from Arlington, finished his senior year with a .374 average. He drove in 47 runs and had a gaudy .500 on-base percentag.
A senior from Katy, McLeod hit .391, which currently ranks as one of the Top 10 hitting seasons in UTA baseball history.
The sixth-seeded Mavericks (26-29) will count on the tri as they battle third-seeded Texas State (29-25) at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the postseason tournament. The winner advances to a 4 p.m. game Thursday against the Southeastern Louisiana-Lamar winner.
The loser plays at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Fans can follow the action by following the live stats or by purchasing the video package from the SLC at www.southland.org.
