University of Minnesota Athletics
Matyas and Pettersen Earn All-Big Ten First Team
5/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
University of Minnesota baseball players Scott Matyas and AJ Pettersen have each been named to the 2011 All-Big Ten First Team, while Nick O'Shea and TJ Oakes made the All-Big Ten Third Team, as announced by the Big Ten Conference office Tuesday evening.
Matyas, a senior right-handed relief pitcher from North Prairie, Wis. (Kettle Morraine HS) was named to the conference's top team for the first time in his career after earning All-Big Ten Second Team honors in 2009 and All-Big Ten Third Team recognition last year. Matyas holds Big Ten and Minnesota records for career saves (35) and single-season saves (15), while also holding Minnesota's school record for career appearances (90).
This season, Matyas has made a team-high 23 appearances with a record of 1-0, a 1.82 earned run average, 10 saves, and 40 strikeouts in 29.2 innings pitched. Matyas is holding opposing batters to a .129 batting average, and right-handers are hitting just .074 (5-for-68) against him.
Pettersen, the Gophers' junior shortstop from Minnetonka, Minn. (Minnetonka HS), also earns All-Big Ten First Team honors for the first time in his career. He was a Second Team selection as a freshman in 2009. Pettersen has led the Gophers on offense all season long. He started the year by extending a hitting streak from last year to 22 games by getting a hit in his first 19 games, and has hit safely in 38 of Minnesota's 44 games.
Pettersen is batting .344 (64-for-186) with team-high totals for batting average, hits, runs scored (31), doubles (nine), on-base percentage (.399), and stolen bases (eight).
O'Shea, a junior first baseman from Blaine, Minn. (Centennial HS), leads the Gophers with six home runs, 27 runs batted in, nine doubles, and a .500 slugging percentage. He is batting .299 (43-for-144) with 19 runs scored, while recording a .987 fielding percentage at first base and catcher. O'Shea earned All-Big Ten First Team honors last season after being named to the conference's All-Freshman Team in 2009.
Oakes is a sophomore right-hander who has been Minnesota's top starting pitcher. He earns All-Big Ten Third Team recognition for the second time after making the team as a freshman last year. This season, Oakes is 5-5 with a 3.45 earned run average, while striking out a team-high 49 in 78.1 innings pitched. In conference games, he's 4-2 with a 3.40 ERA.
After winning a share of its first Big Ten Championship since 1979, Michigan State earned three conference individual awards as first baseman Jeff Holm was named Player of the Year, Kurt Wunderlich was named Pitcher of the Year and Jake Boss Jr. was named Coach of the Year. Ohio State's Josh Dezse was named the conference's Freshman of the Year.
The complete list of All-Big Ten teams and award winners can be found below.
ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM
C - Kevin Plawecki, PUR
1B - Jeff Holm, MSU
2B - Ryan Jones, MSU
SS - AJ Pettersen, MINN
3B - Torsten Boss, MSU
OF - BRANDON ECKERLE, MSU
OF - SEAN DEEGAN, PSU
OF - Barrett Serrato, PUR
DH - Alex Dickerson, IND
SP - Joey DeNato, IND
SP - Tony Bucciferro, MSU
SP - Kurt Wunderlich, MSU
RP - Scott Matyas, MINN
ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM
C - Adam Davis, ILL
1B - Josh Dezse, OSU
2B - Pete Cappetta, ILL
SS - Josh Parr, ILL
3B - Chris Lashmet, NU
OF - Patrick Biondi, MICH
OF - Michael O'Neill, MICH
OF - Tyler Spillner, PUR
DH - Paul Snieder, NU
SP - Jarred Hippen, IOWA
SP - Drew Rucinski, OSU
SP - Steven Hill, PSU
RP - Nick Wittgren, PUR
ALL-BIG TEN THIRD TEAM*
C - Tyson Blaser, IOWA
1B - Nick O'Shea, MINN
2B - Micah Johnson, IND
SS - Trevor Stevens, NU
3B - Cameron Perkins, PUR
OF - Willie Argo, ILL
OF - Casey McMurray, ILL
OF - Trevor Willis, IOWA
OF - Stephen Talbott, PUR
DH - Jared Hook, MSU
SP - Brandon Sinnery, MICH
SP - TJ Oakes, MINN
SP - John Walter, PSU
RP - Wes Braun, ILL
RP - Tony Wieber, MSU
ALL-BIG TEN FRESHMAN TEAM
C - Joel Fisher, MSU
1B - JOSH DEZSE, OSU
2B - KYLE RUCHIM, NU
SS - Thomas Lindauer, ILL
3B - DUSTIN DeMUTH, IND
OF - Taylor Zeutenhorst, IOWA
OF - MICHAEL O'NEILL, MICH
OF - Tim Wetzel, OSU
DH - Jack Livingston, NU
SP - JOEY DeNATO, IND
SP - David Garner, MSU
SP - GREG GREVE, OSU
RP - Ryan Halstead, IND
Unanimous honorees in ALL CAPS
* - Additional honorees due to tie
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Josh Parr, ILL
Brian Lambert, IND
Tyson Blaser, IOWA
Anthony Toth, MICH
Brandon Eckerle, MSU
Kyle Geason, MINN
Matt Gailey, NU
Theron Minium, OSU
Bobby Jacobs, PSU
David Blount, PUR
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Holm, MSU
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Kurt Wunderlich, MSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Josh Dezse, OSU
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jake Boss Jr., MSU
