COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech sophomore A.J.
Kirby-Jones has been named to the honorable mention All-Ping!
Baseball team, one of six players from the Ohio Valley Conference
selected by the website PingBaseball.com to its post-season
teams.
Kirby-Jones, who was named second-team all-OVC and Most Valuable
Player of the OVC Tournament, was picked as a Utility Player for
the Ping team, which lists 125 players – approximately one
percent of the nearly 9,000 Division I players across the
nation.
Murray State junior pitcher Daniel Calhoun and Eastern Illinois
senior outfielder Brett Nommensen were second-team selection. In
addition to Kirby-Jones, the other three OVC honorable mention
picks were Eastern Kentucky sophomore third baseman Jayson
Langfels, Southeast Missouri junior catcher Jim Klocke, and Eastern
Illinois junior Richie Derbak, also a utility player.
The Knoxville native and Webb School product started in all 56
games in 2009, filling roles at first base, designated hitter,
starter and reliever for coach Matt Bragga’s team.
At the plate, Kirby-Jones tied the Tech record for most home runs
in a season, leading the OVC with 20. He batted .325 with 15
doubles and posted a .706 slugging percentage with 68 RBI. He
walked 42 times, including eight intentional walks. He was third in
the OVC in both RBI and total bases.
On the mound, he appeared in 18 games including four as a starter
and 14 in relief spots. He posted a 3-3 record with a 5.51 earned
run average, with 52 strikeouts in 49 innings.
OVC players named to PingBaseball.com
team
Second Team
OF - Brett Nommensen, Eastern Illinois
P - Daniel Calhoun, Murray State
Honorable Mention
C - Jim Klocke, Southeast Missouri
3B - Jayson Langfels, Eastern Kentucky
UT - Richie Derbak, Eastern Illinois
UT - A.J. Kirby-Jones, Tennessee Tech