Diamond Notes : LeBlanc, Salem, Valverde Named to NCBWA All-America Team

[Diamond Tide]

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06/13/2006

DALLAS, Texas – University of Alabama juniors Wade LeBlanc and Emeel Salem and senior Kody Valverde were named to the 2006 Pro Line Cap/National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association All-America team, in an announcement made by NCBWA Executive Director Bo Carter on Tuesday.

LeBlanc and Salem were named Second-Team All-American by the NCBWA, while Valverde was a Third-Team All-American selection.

LeBlanc (Lake Charles, La.) finished the season with an 11-1 record and 2.92 ERA in 18 starts this season for the Crimson Tide. He worked 129 1/3 innings and allowed 110 hits, 47 runs and 42 earned runs, with 43 walks and 128 strikeouts.

He set UA single-season records for innings pitched (129 1/3) and strikeouts (129) this season. He broke Lance Cormier’s record of 129 innings pitched previously set in 2002. LeBlanc also broke the single-season strikeout record (118) previously held by Bobby Sprowl in 1977. He is also Bama’s all-time strikeout leader with 334 career strikeouts.

Salem (Mountain Brook) had a banner year for the Crimson Tide. He led UA with a .356 (101-for-284) average, with two home runs and 32 RBI from the leadoff spot in the order. Salem also led UA with 67 runs scored and 36 stolen bases this season.

A First-Team All-SEC selection, Salem was also named to the College Baseball Foundation All-America team and was Second-Team All-American by Louisville Slugger and Collegiate Baseball. Salem was also a First-Team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America selection and was named to the SEC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was also named to the 2006 SEC Good Works team for his community service.

Valverde (Baton Rouge) had his best season in 2006, as he hit .347 (76-for-219) with 12 home runs and 59 RBI. He led the Crimson Tide in home runs and was second in hitting and RBI. He was a Second-Team All-SEC selection by the league’s head coaches.

The senior was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2006 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional as he led the Crimson Tide to its sixth NCAA Regional championship with wins over Jacksonville State and Troy. He batted .714 (10-for-14) in the three games, with one double, one home run and eight RBI. Valverde hit a grand slam, the first of his career, in Bama’s 13-1 win over Jax State in the opening round. His two-out, ninth inning single gave the Tide a 4-3 win in game two. He tied an Alabama single-game record with five hits in the 14-5 win over Troy in the championship game.

Valverde was a 10th round draft pickoff the San Diego Padres last week and has signed to play with the Padres. He has been assigned to the Eugene (Oregon) Emeralds of the short-season Northwest League and will begin his pro career on Tuesday, June 20.


(Courtesy Barry Allen University of Alabama Media Relations)

RTR,

Diamond Tide