Diamond Notes : Kent Matthes Named District III Player of the Year

[Diamond Tide]

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June 5, 2009

Matthes is third UA player to win District III honors from the NCBWA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama right fielder Kent Matthes has been named to the 2009 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association District III Player of the Year it was announced on Friday in the NCBWA's 10th annual awards.

Matthes is the third Alabama player to win District III Player of the Year honors, joining Andy Phillips (1999) and Beau Hearod (2003). District III is comprised of schools from Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.

The UA senior was named District III Player of the Year and the 2009 SEC Player of the Year, after setting the Alabama single-season record with 28 home runs. He broke the 23-year old record of 27 home runs held by Doug Duke in 1986.

He is a finalist for the 2009 Golden Spikes Award, presented by USA Baseball, and is a semi-finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, presented to the national player of the year by the NCBWA. He was named to the 2009 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper/Louisville Slugger All-America Team, becoming the eighth first-team All-American under head coach Jim Wells. He was also one of a school-record tying five Alabama players to be named tirst-team All-SEC this season.

The Orlando, Fla., native led the nation in home runs (28) and ranked second in home runs per game (0.5), third in slugging percentage (.858), sixth in RBI per game (1.45), ninth in RBI (81) and 10th in total bases (175). In 58 games, he hit .358 (73-for-204) with 28 home runs and 81 RBI. He led the Tide in runs scored (67), home runs (28), RBI (81), total bases (175), slugging percentage (.858), sac flies (6), intentional walks (5), on-base percentage (.464) and stolen bases (13). In SEC play, he hit .330 (35-for-106) with 13 home runs and 35 RBI in 29 games.

Matthes opened the season with an 18-game hitting streak and was one of three UA players to hit for the cycle this season, when he went 4-for-5 with five RBI in a win over Nicholls State on Feb. 24. He also set the school record with a home run in six straight games. For the season, Matthes hit 15 game-tying or go-ahead home runs and he led the Tide with 10 game-winning RBI. He was twice named National Player of the Week and SEC Player of the Week (March 2 and March 16) this season.

Kent Matthes' 2009 Honors and Awards

*First-Team All-American (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Ping Baseball)
*NCBWA District III Player of the Year
*Finalist for Golden Spikes Award (USA Baseball Player of the Year)
*Semi-Finalist for Dick Howser Trophy (NCBWA Player of the Year)
*2009 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year
*First-Team All-SEC (SEC Coaches)
*SEC Good Works Team (Community Service)
*Collegiate Baseball Newspaper/Louisville Slugger Player of the Week (March 16)
*SEC Player of the Week (March 16)
*College Baseball Foundation All-Star Lineup (March 16)
*Collegiate Baseball Newspaper/Louisville Slugger Player of the Week (March 2)
*SEC Player of the Week (March 2)
*College Baseball Foundation All-Star Lineup (March 2)


-UA-


RTR,

Diamond Tide

[crimsonkelly]

He really did have a monster year for us. I wish he didn't cool off some towards the end though or he might have hit 32 or 33 bombs. He's been my favorite player other than Emeel Salem, Joe Caruso, GW Keller and Alex Kubal. Guess I'll have to find a new one.....