Troy University Athletics
Senior shortstop Tyler Hannah was named to the NCBWA All-American team, Wednesday afternoon, along with senior pitcher Tyler Ray.
Photo by: Edward Fieder
Hannah, Ray named to NCBWA 2012 Preseason All-American Team
12/14/2011 3:04:00 PM | Baseball
NCBWA Release
Senior right-handed pitcher Tyler Ray and senior shortstop Tyler Hannah picked up their first preseason honor of the year, as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association selected both to the 2012 Preseason All-American team.
Ray was named to the first team, while Hannah was selected to the third team, respectively. Both players join FIU outfielder Pablo Bermudez as selections from the Sun Belt Conference.
Coming off a 12-0 campaign and being named the 2011 Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year, Ray was selected to the first team as a pitcher along with South Carolina's Michael Roth and Matt Price, as well as Virginia's Brandon Kline and Texas A&M's Ross Stripling.
At the conclusion of the 2011 season, Ray was named a second team All-American by the NCBWA, after the Hoover, Ala. native posted a record of 12-0 and a 2.39 ERA, striking out 69 batters in 116.2 innings of work.
Entering the 2012 season, Ray ranks second in Troy history in wins (27), is tied for third in starts (46), and is tied for seventh in strikeouts (184).
After just one season as a Trojan, senior shortstop comes in as third team All-American selection by the NCBWA. Hannah led Troy last season in doubles with 27 and hit a team-leading .370, last season.
Hannah finished third in the nation last season in doubles per game (0.44) and was fourteenth in the country in doubles. Hannah will move from third base to shortstop this season and will come into the 2012 season as the leading returning player in every major offensive category for Troy.
In 2011, the Gardendale, Ala. native recorded seven home runs, while driving in 53 runs at the plate. At the hot corner, Hannah posted a .970 fielding percentage in 62 games played.
The 12th annual NCBWA preseason All-America group also had representatives of 19 different conferences and 37 schools from the NCAA Division I ranks. The eight starting or relief pitchers on the first squad each had earned run averages of 2.40 or less.
Most of these preseason standouts will be nominated for the 26th annual Dick Howser Trophy, presented by Easton Foundations and the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Area Chamber of Commerce and voted upon by the NCBWA membership.
The Howser Trophy will be awarded in Omaha, Neb., in June 2012, after an extensive nomination and national balloting process.
The Trojans open the 2012 regular season against the Central Michigan Chippewas on Friday, February 17, at 6:00 p.m. at Riddle-Pace Field.
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