Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Eight Salukis Garner All-Conference Baseball Honors
05/19/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
May 19, 2003
2003 MVC All-Conference Team in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Carbondale, Ill.- Catcher Toby Barnett and starting pitcher Jake Alley highlighted a cast of eight Salukis named to the 2003 All-Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Teams, announced today by the league office. Barnett and Alley garnered first-team honors, while second baseman Greg Andrews and outfielder Sal Frisella earned second-team recognition. Four others, including Nathan Boldt (3B), Nathan Emrick (UT), Bryan Rueger (starting pitcher) and Adam Snyder (relief pitcher) were named honorable mention.
A native of Kallaroo, W. Australia, Barnett was tabbed to the league's first-team unit for the second straight year, and was named to both the 2003 Rotary Smith and Johnny Bench Award Watch Lists. Also a first-team MVC Scholar-Athlete pick this season, he ranks among the top three Salukis in several offensive categories, including hits (56; T1st), doubles (9; T3rd), triples (2; T2nd), home runs (8; 2nd), RBI (39; 1st) and runs scored (30; 3rd).
Nearby Anna, Ill., product Jake Alley took all-conference accolades for the first time since being selected honorable mention as a freshman (1999). The team's ace right-hander, Alley needs just four Ks to become the school's all-time career strikeout leader. Sporting a 6-3 record in 14 appearances this season, he boasts a second-best 2.90 ERA with a 63/33 strikeout/walk ratio.
Frisella, who hails from St. Louis, Mo., was tabbed second-team all-MVC for the second time in his career. One of two Salukis to start all 50 games this season, Frisella hits .322 with a team-leading nine home runs. Most recently, he belted a grand slam in front of his hometown fans against Saint Louis on May 13. The round-tripper, which marked the 27th of his career, moved him into a tie for third on SIU's all-time career home run list.
Junior Andrews started 49 games at second base for the Dawgs this season. A native of Peoria, Ill., he was named MVC Player of the Week on May 5. Hitting .303, Andrews leads the team in hits (56) and doubles (11), while ranking second in runs scored (40), RBI (31) and total bases (90).
SIU's honorable mention class consists of three newcomers, including Boldt, Emrick and Snyder, and sophomore Rueger.
Rueger is the number two pitcher in the Salukis' starting rotation. He appeared in 11 games this season, while making seven starts. Boasting a 5-2 record with a 3.81 ERA, the left-hander out of Mt. Vernon, Ind., struck out 25 batters in 52 innings of work.
Junior transfer Boldt, on the other hand, hails from Mt. Vernon, Ill., and hits .321 with 27 runs scored, seven doubles, a home run and 22 RBI. He started all 50 games at third base for the Dawgs this season.
SIU's all-purpose player who has played a minimum of one game at six different positions for the Salukis this season, freshman Emrick is hitting .322 with 14 runs scored, 38 hits, seven doubles, a triple, a home run and 19 RBI. The native of Griggsville, Ill., also hit a game-winning single to help lift the Dawgs to an extra-inning win against Northern Iowa (3/22).
Lastly, Snyder is one of the team's top relief pitchers who has made 13 appearances out of the bullpen this season. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Snyder holds a team-leading 2.83 ERA. Striking out 14 batters in 28.2 innings, he once threw five straight scoreless innings from Feb. 23-Mar. 8.
