By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Five members of the Tennessee Tech baseball received more recognition for their fantastic performances during the 2014 regular season recently, with four earning Ohio Valley All-Conference First Team honors and one taking home Second Team honors by College Sports Madness.
Boasting one of the nation's best offenses, the Golden Eagles lead all of Division I baseball in runs (456), runs per game (8.3), home runs (78), and home runs per game (1.42). Tech also ranks second in slugging percentage (.497), hits (615), and walks (294), third in on base percentage (.412), and in the top 10 in batting average (.311), doubles (114), sac flies (33), and fielding percentage (.980).
The Golden Eagles proved to be one of the best teams in the Ohio Valley Conference during the regular season, finishing in second place while amassing 38 wins, just one season after posting a school-record 39 in the 2013 regular season.
Brandon Thomasson earned First Team recognition after putting together one of the better single seasons in program history. The slugger has been one of the best in college baseball this season, leading the nation in total bases (169) and extra base hits (44). He also ranks second in Division I ball with 22 home runs, second with a .748 slugging percentage, and third with 70 RBI.
He is just the fifth player in the history of the BB Core bat era (began in the 2012 season) to hit 22 or more long balls. Thomasson also ranks second on the Tech single-season list for home runs, just four behind A.J. Kirby-Jones' OVC record of 26 in 2010. He also is just four RBI away from the Tech single-season mark held by former Golden Eagle great Mark Maberry. He is just two weeks removed from being named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Also named to the First Team was third baseman Daniel Miles. The senior has been recognized for his incredible play all season, earning a spot on the USA Baseball Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List as well as being named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy. He also earned OVC Player of the Week and NCAA National Player of the Week honors this season.
Miles is batting a team-best .385 on the year, ranking second in the nation with 63 runs scored. The Pascagoula, Miss. native has 85 hits this season, ranking fifth all-time in Tech's single-season record book. He also has driven in 48 runs on the power of 17 doubles, a triple, and 10 home runs. He is slugging .606 and has walked 35 times as compared to striking out just 19 times. Miles has made just seven errors on the year at the hot corner, accruing a fielding percentage of .950.
Junior Dylan Bosheers collected First Team honors as well after proving to be one of the best shortstops in country. In addition to earning OVC Player of the Week honors this season, Bosheers has also been named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and earned a spot on the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List.
A three-year starter from Lawrenceburg, Tenn., Bosheers is batting .369 with 62 runs scored and 49 RBI this year, racking up a career-high 10 home runs in 55 starts. He has 80 hits this season while slugging .576 and stealing eight bases. The junior also has played incredible defense, recording a .967 fielding percentage.
Making the transition from long reliever to Friday ace, junior starter David Hess hasn't missed a beat on his way to First Team honors, leading the Golden Eagles in wins, ERA among starters, and strikeouts. He earned OVC Pitcher of the Week honors earlier this season as well.
Hess has fanned 91 batters this season, already putting him in third place all time among Tech pitchers in strikeouts with 219 for his career. He owns an impressive 8-3 record with a 3.54 ERA in 14 starts for the Golden Eagles. The Tullahoma, Tenn. native has tossed 86 and a third innings while walking just 26 batters and holding opponents to a .238 average.
A former walk-on and transfer from Chattanooga State Community College, senior Zach Zarzour has been an absolute steal for the Tech squad as he earned Second Team honors from College Sports Madness. He earned OVC Player of the Week honors earlier this season after batting above .700 in four games.
The second baseman is batting .336 as the leadoff man for the Golden Eagles, scoring 50 runs and gathering 76 hits. He owns an impressive .443 on base percentage while drawing a team-high 36 walks. He owns a solid .963 fielding percentage and has driven in 36 runs while raking 17 doubles in 54 games.
