LAFAYETTE, La. - WKU baseball first baseman Ryan Huck has been named to the 2013 All-Sun Belt Conference First Team, the league announced on Tuesday at the annual Family Fun Night to kick of the 2013 Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Huck becomes the first Hilltopper since Kes Carter and Matt Rice in 2011 to earn first team honors.
Huck was one of 14 student-athletes across the league to be named to the first team, as voted on by the league coaches.
Huck has had a memorable 2013 campaign to this point, leading the conference in home runs (15), slugging percentage (.697) and ranks third in average (.372). In conference games only, Huck has been outstanding, leading the league with 10 home runs in conference play, to go along with a league-best .759 slugging percentage and 32 RBI. Huck also ranks second with a .402 batting average against Sun Belt Conference pitching.
Huck was recently named the conference player of the week for the third time this season, joining Troy’s Danny Collins as the only two league players to pick up three weekly honors this season.
Huck has set career highs in virtually every offensive category in his senior season. Heading into the conference tournament, Huck currently has 32 career home runs, ranking 10th in WKU baseball history. The St. Louis, Mo., native is just two home runs away from tying Matt Rice for eighth all-time in WKU history in career home runs, while sitting just seven walks away from moving into the top 10 for walks in a single season in Hilltopper history.
Huck has started in 174 career games during his four years on the Hill, driving in 130 runs with 197 hits. The durable infielder has also gotten it done with the glove, sporting a career .989 fielding percentage.
Huck capped off his massive regular season with another stellar series against Middle Tennessee, as the senior blasted two home runs in the three-game series. In six games in 2013 against Middle Tennessee, Huck has hit six home runs, hitting at least one home run in four of the six games against the Blue Raiders. Huck had seven hits in the three-game series, driving in seven runs.
Huck enters the tournament on a career high 11-game hitting streak, while also having at least two hits in eight-straight games, which includes a career-best five hits against ULM to start the streak.
Also at Tuesday night’s award ceremony, the WKU baseball team was honored as the team with highest GPA in the Sun Belt Conference.
The Hilltoppers will now get set for the 2013 Sun Belt Conference Tournament, as WKU will open against Florida Atlantic at 9:00 AM (CT) on Wednesday in Lafayette, La. Fans can hear the game at ESPN 1450 AM, or online at WKUSports.com. Video stream will be available at SunBeltSports.org.
2013 Sun Belt Baseball All-Conference First Team
Daniel Wright (Arkansas State, Senior, SP)
Austin Gomber (Florida Atlantic, Sophomore, SP)
Austin Robichaux (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sophomore, SP)
Shane McCain (Troy, Sophomore, SP)
Hugh Adams (Florida Atlantic, RS-Senior, RP)
Aramis Garcia (FIU, Sophomore, C)
Ryan Huck (WKU, Senior, 1B)
Robby Campbell (South Alabama, Senior, 2B)
Tyler Vaughn (Troy, Junior, SS)
Logan Pierce (Troy, Senior, 3B)
Dex Kjerstad (Louisiana-Lafayette, Junior, OF)
Seth Harrison (Louisiana-Lafayette, Junior, OF)
Danny Collins (Troy, Junior, OF)
Dustin Dalken (South Alabama, Senior, DH)
Jordan Patterson (South Alabama, Junior, UTIL)
2013 Sun Belt Baseball All-Conference Second Team
Chance Cleveland (UALR, Senior, SP)
Matt Bell (South Alabama, Junior, SP)
Kyle Bartsch (South Alabama, Senior, RP)
Whitt Dorsey (South Alabama, Senior, C)
Trae Santos (Troy, Junior, 1B)
Johnny Thomas (Middle Tennessee, Senior, 2B)
Blake Trahan (Louisiana-Lafayette, Freshman, SS)
Tyler Girouard (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sophomore, 3B)
Nathan Pittman (Florida Atlantic, Senior, OF)
Ryan Stephens (Middle Tennessee, Jr., OF)
Nolan Earley (South Alabama, Senior, OF)
Caleb Adams (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sophomore, DH)
Ryan Leonards (Louisiana-Lafayette, Junior, UTIL)
2013 Sun Belt Baseball Player of the Year
Jordan Patterson (South Alabama, Junior, UTIL)
2013 Sun Belt Baseball Pitcher of the Year
Shane McCain (Troy, Junior, SP)
2013 Sun Belt Baseball Freshman of the Year
Blake Trahan (Louisiana-Lafayette, SS)
2013 Sun Belt Baseball Ron Maestri Coach of the Year
Mark Calvi, South Alabama
