Junior Ryan Hutson (left), senior Ryan Rummel (center) and freshman Ryan Dalton earned Southland Conference postseason honors on Monday.
FRISCO — Junior second baseman Ryan Hutson, senior designated hitter Ryan Rummel and freshman third baseman Ryan Dalton were honored on Monday when the Southland Conference announced its postseason awards.
Hutson proved his preseason first-team selection was no fluke, as he earned a spot on the league's top squad. The Round Rock native led the Roadrunners with a .348 batting average, 19 multi-hit games, 42 runs scored, 23 walks, a .435 on-base percentage and .641 slugging percentage this year. A third-teamer a year ago, he also was second on the squad with his 14 home runs, 43 RBIs and 118 total bases after starting 48 of UTSA's 50 contests this spring.
His selection to the first team pushes the program's all-time total to 19 and 11 have come during head coach Sherman Corbett's 10-year tenure in the Alamo City.
Rummel, meanwhile, picked up third-team honors for the second time in the last three seasons. The Uvalde native had a solid final campaign that saw him hit .331, which was second-best on the squad, to go along with a team-best 17 doubles. A two-time team captain, he also added seven homers and 31 RBIs, recorded a .419 on-base average and racked up 93 total bases, which translated to a .581 slugging percentage. Rummel was a third-team selection two years ago at third base.
Dalton remarkably did not earn a spot on any of the circuit's top four squads, but the Sugar Land native was tabbed the Southland Freshman of the Year after a inaugural season that saw him record a .305 batting average with team bests of 17 home runs and 51 RBIs (both UTSA frosh records) in 50 starts at the hot corner. In fact, he ended the regular season tied for the league lead in homers and his total currently is tied for second nationally among freshmen. His squad-leading 120 total bases translated to a .632 slugging percentage and Dalton also paced the Birds with 19 multi-hit and 13 multi-RBI contests in addition to crossing the plate 38 times. He is the third Roadrunner in school annals to earn the award (Ryan Crew, 2003/Tim Palincsar, 2007).
UTSA (22-28, 13-20 SLC) saw its 2010 campaign come to an end with Saturday's 11-6 loss at Central Arkansas, but the Roadrunners finished the year by winning eight of their final nine games.