May 25, 2005
Charleston, S.C. -
Western Carolina outfielder Steven Strausbaugh has been named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, as selected by the league's coaches. The Venice, Fla., native, who was additionally named second team All-SoCon, becomes the sixth Catamount to earn the honor and the first since 1991.
Strausbaugh led all SoCon rookies in batting (.386), home runs (12), slugging perecentage (.623), total bases (129), RBI (51), hits (80) and on base percentage (.458). Among all league players, he ranked third in homers, sixth in slugging, eighth in total bases, ninth in batting average, ninth in RBI, 10th in hits and 11th in on base percentage. Strausbaugh, who batted fourth in the lineup, had a hit in 35 of his last 37 games, including hit streaks of 15 and 19 games over the span.
Previous Catamounts to be named SoCon Freshman of the Year include Brian Tebo (1983), Freddie Hailey (1984), Matt Raleigh (1989), Rob Doherty (1990) and Phillip Grundy (1991).
Strausbaugh will lead Western in its opening round game of the 2005 Southern Conference Championship tonight (Wednesday, May 25) versus sixth-seed The Citadel at approximately 8:00 pm.
