Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team placed eight players on the American Southwest Conference All-Conference Teams released Monday. The Cru had two First Team selections, placed two players on the Second Team, added two Third Team picks and had three players earn spots on the Honorable Mention All-Conference Team, including one repeat pick.
K.J. Stark and Rob Loewe were both voted to the All-Conference First Team. Stark, a senior from Ellison High School, took outfield honors after batting .350 and adding team highs with five home runs and 29 RBI. Loewe, a senior from Waller High School, was named to the utility position after splitting the year between first base, second base and designated hitter. Loewe led the Cru with a .411 batting average and hit five homers and drove in 28 runs. He also had team highs with 14 doubles and a .595 slugging percentage.
Chase Burrow and Aaron Barteau were named to the All-Conference Second Team. Burrow, a junior outfielder from Groesbeck High School, batted .328 with two homers and 29 RBI. Barteau, a junior starting pitcher from Dallas Bishop Lynch High School, went 4-3 with a 2.53 ERA. He also ranked among the national leaders with 89 strikeouts despite missing his last two starts with an injury.
Dakota Parsons and Will Stafford both earned spots on the All-Conference Third Team. Parsons, a sophomore shortstop from College Park High School, batted .333 with five home runs and 18 RBI. Stafford, a junior outfielder from Katy Cinco Ranch High School, batted .346 and drove in 17 runs.
Kreece Cooper, Cory Farr and Stark all represented the UMHB pitching staff as Honorable Mention All-Conference selections. Cooper, a senior starter from Jarrell High School, went 2-3 with a 4.92 ERA. He also struck out 65 batters in a team-high 67.1 innings one year after undergoing “Tommy John” surgery. Farr, a junior reliever from New Caney High School, was 4-2 with a 1.71 ERA and he tied for the team lead with three saves. Stark also took Honorable Mention honors as a relief pitcher. He was 0-1 with a team-best 0.93 ERA and matched Farr for the team lead with three saves on the season.
This is the second All-Conference honor for Stark, Loewe, Burrow, Barteau, Parsons and Stafford. Cooper and Farr are first-time All-Conference picks.
The Cru finished the 2015 season with a 19-22 overall record. UMHB went 16-14 in ASC play and advanced to the ASC Tournament for the third consecutive season.
