The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has named Jerrud Sabourin an All-American after his exceptional freshman campaign.
Sabourin, who left Arizona after one semester for lack of projected playing time, entrenched himself quickly and firmly into the starting first base position. He racked up five home runs, 53 RBIs, 14 doubles and a .383 average that ranked him second on the team behind All-American Josh Phegley.
Sabourin also posted a .991 fielding percentage and a conference-leading 527 putouts.
But above all his other quite impressive stats this season, Sabourin came up in a BIG way for his team down the very critical end-stretch to the season. Over the Hoosiers' last 23 games, Sabourin's .438 average led all players on the team, and he posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage during that time. Over that stretch, IU went 15-8, as Sabourin knocked three of his five home runs and chased in 28 RBIs.
The full release is below. Read and sound off: What does it mean for IU baseball to have players like Sabourin becoming a more consistent part of the program?
SABOURIN COLLECTS FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA RECOGNITION BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Freshman first baseman Jerrud Sabourin has been named a Second Team Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, the organization announced today. Sabourin had a stellar freshman campaign for the Hoosiers, starting 59 games at first base and hitting .383 with 14 doubles and 53 RBI.Sabourin was one of the top players in a stellar group of Big Ten first basemen. He had the second-highest average among conference first basemen and was third at the position in RBI. He finished second behind Josh Phegley with a .517 slugging percentage on the year and third on the team with five home runs. He led the conference with 527 putouts and had a .991 fielding percentage. The San Diego, Calif., native is the second Freshman All-American in school history, joining Dan Haegele, who earned honorable mention in 1998.
Over IU's final 23 games, where the Hoosiers went 15-8, Sabourin led all players with a .438 average. He was also second on the team with three home runs and 28 RBI over that time, slugging .594 and posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. The first baseman was also named All-Tournament for his performance in Indiana's third-place run at the Big Ten tourney.
Sabourin first heated up in his home state, as he tore up the opposition at the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic in Fresno, Calif. Sabourin hit .417 - third on the Hoosiers - and had the first five extra-base hits of his career in the Classic to post a team- leading .708 slugging percentage. After hitting an RBI double in the Classic opener against Gonzaga that tied the game 4-4 in the seventh, Sabourin scored a run and had a pair of walks against New Mexico State. Over the final four games of the Classic, he was 9-for-18 with five RBI and three runs scored. He capped it off with his first career homer - a shot to right center vs. Portland.
Additionally, Phegley and Sabourin collected All-Ping! honors fromPing!Baseball . Phegley was named a second team All-Ping! selection, while Sabourin was named a second team honoree on the 2008 Freshman Team. Phegley, who was earlier named a second team All-American byCollege Baseball News , finished off one of the best offensive seasons in IU history with a .438 average, 15 home runs, 80 RBI and 20 doubles.
Over IU's final 23 games, where the Hoosiers went 15-8, Sabourin led all players with a .438 average. He was also second on the team with three home runs and 28 RBI over that time, slugging .594 and posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
