SHSU Sports
Zaleski named Bearkats’ MVP
Riley tabbed SHSU’s Most Valuable Hitter
Nick Zaleski, a senior four-year letterman from Sugar Land, has been named as the Most Valuable Player for the 2009 Sam Houston State baseball team.
Zaleski produced a .419 batting average this season, the highest individual season hitting mean by a Bearkat since Sam Houston State moved up to the NCAA Division I level in 1987. Zaleski is one of nine players in Bearkat history to produce a season average above .400
Starting 33 games at first base, 25 in left field and two as designated hitter, Zaleski led the Bearkats to a 36-24 record and the team’s third consecutive Southland Conference tournament crown and NCAA Division I regional berth. Zaleski earned both second team All-Southland Conference and All-SLC Tournament honors.
The MVP selection was one of four postseason awards voted upon by members of the 2009 Bearkat baseball squad.
Braeden Riley was voted as Most Valuable Hitter and Sean Weatherford was named Most Valuable Pitcher. Jacob Howard received the team’s Spirit Award.
Riley set Southland Conference and Sam Houston State records with 111 hits this season, a total currently leading NCAA Division I baseball. The sophomore from Woodville hit .387 and recorded 37 multiple-hit games. At one point during the season, Riley produced a 16-game hitting streak. He was a first-team All-Southland Conference selection and started all 60 games at second base.
Weatherford produced an 8-2 record as a freshman. The Bryan product led the Bearkats with 80 innings pitched and 77 strikeouts. He also had four saves.
Howard, a junior from West Columbia, pitched in 15 games, putting together a 4-4 record with 56 strikeouts.
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Opportunity missed
Sam Houston State was right there.
The Bearkats were dead even with 19th-ranked Baylor with less than four minutes to go in the game. Senior Ashton Mitchell had just tied the contest at 55 on a layup worthy of SportsCenter’s Plays of the Week.
Mitchell’s tricky reverse layup was the kind of play that usually leads to something special. But just as fast as it came, the momentum quickly shifted in the Bears’ favor.
Third-seeded Baylor got eight points from junior guard LaceDarius Dunn and went on an 11-4 run in the final two and a half minutes to avoid a huge upset, notching a 68-59 victory over Sam Houston State in the first round of the NCAA tournament Thursday afternoon at New Orleans Arena. -
Fantastic finish
When every young recruit walks through the door at Johnson Coliseum, their goal is help Sam Houston State get to the NCAA tournament.
The Bearkats have had some really talented players over the past seven seasons since Sam Houston last went dancing and none of them were able to accomplish what this year’s group has. -
Playing among trees
Monday afternoon at Johnson Coliseum, the Bearkats began preparing for their first-round NCAA tournament matchup with 19th-ranked Baylor.
Sam Houston State (25-7) literally has a steep hill to climb if it wants to upset the third-seeded Bears (25-7) on Thursday in New Orleans. Baylor has a 7-foot center (Josh Lomers) and a pair of 6-10 forwards (Ekpe Udoh and Anthony Jones) who have played in all 32 games this season. -
Goin’ to the Big Dance
The Bearkats were on a mission and Stephen F. Austin got caught in the fury.
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Courtney falls just short of medaling at NCAA Indoors
Sam Houston State senior Michael Courtney was the first Bearkat to compete in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and he left his mark.
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Still kicking
The Bearkats were staggering and about to go down. But the regular-season champions showed what they were made of in the semifinals of the Southland Conference tournament Thursday night.
Junior guard Lance Pevehouse knocked down a clutch 3-pointer with 1:11 left in the game to help Sam Houston State overcome a five-point deficit. The Bearkats then caught some breaks down the stretch and pulled out a thrilling 88-85 win over Southeastern Louisiana at the Merrell Center. -
SAM SURVIVES
At this stage in the game, a win is a win.
Sam Houston State survived a stellar performance from a one-man wrecking crew Wednesday to advance to the semifinals of the Southland Conference tournament. The top-seeded Bearkats held on and beat upset-minded Nicholls 62-57 at the Merrell Center. -
Bearkats blow out Northwestern State 103-75
When Sam Houston State senior Corey Allmond drained his first 3-point attempt Wednesday, the Demons from Northwestern State had to know it was going to be a long night.
- Another big win for Bearkat women
- Danger, danger
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Opportunity missed
