Mende Selected to All-Tournament Team
May 25, 2009 | Baseball
TAMPA ? University of South Florida freshman shortstop Sam Mende was one of 11 players selected to the 2009 BIG EAST Baseball Championships All-Tournament Team.
Mende batted .647 in four tournament games for the Bulls, connecting on 11 hits in 17 at bats. He tagged a home run, his fifth of the year, and registered a trio of doubles while driving in six RBI. The starting shortstop was perfect in the field, making 10 putouts and collecting seven assists with no errors.
The product of Clearwater Central Catholic High recorded multiple hits in all four games this week, with a 4-for-4 outing, including two doubles, against UConn in the elimination game. The freshman started the tournament with at 2-for-4 game against Pittsburgh, tagging a home run and drawing a walk. He connected on a double in the first matchup with the Huskies, then had a trio of singles against West Virginia. Mende scored one run in all four games.
USF's starting shortstop in all 59 games this season, Mende ended his rookie campaign with a .319 batting average, connecting with five home runs, a team-high 17 doubles and one triple. He posted a .466 slugging percentage and a .395 on base mark. Mende also drove in 37 runs, fourth-best on the team and was second on the team in total hits (74) and total bases with 101.
All-Tournament Team
Jeff Arnold, C, Louisville
Pierre LePage, IF, Connecticut
Andrew Clark, IF, Louisville
Mike Nemeth, IF, Connecticut
Sam Mende, IF, USF
Peter Fatse, OF, Connecticut
Ryan Wright, OF, Louisville
Austin Markel, OF, West Virginia
Phil Wunderlich, DH, Louisville
Will Hudgins, P, Notre Dame
Tony Zych, P, Louisville
Jack Kaiser Award (Most Outstanding Player)
Andrew Clark, IF, Louisville
