Aggies land two on All-LSC baseball first team

RICHARDSON, Texas (May 7) - Cameron seniors Steve Clark and Allen Mitchell have been selected to the Lone Star Conference North Division baseball all-conference first team, according to a release by conference officials. Clark, a 6-2 third baseman from Calgary, Alberta, and Mitchell, a 6-2 right-handed pitcher from Snowflake, Ariz., were among the 18 players selected to the all-conference first team in voting conducted among the division's head coaches.

Clark

Mitchell

In addition to Clark and Mitchell, three other Cameron players received postseason recognition in the conference. Senior catcher Chris Balsiger, who was named the LSC North preseason player of the year this season, and junior outfielder Cody Brooks each received second team all-conference honors. Senior pitcher Derek Bennett, a transfer from East Central University, earned all-conference honorable mention.

Known for his outstanding glove work in the Aggie infield the past two seasons, Clark was a major contributor to the Cameron offense this season, as well. He finished second on the team with a .333 batting average while leading the Aggies in home runs (13), runs batted in (41) and runs score (41). Clark also led Cameron in total bases and slugging percentage and was 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts this season. Defensively, he recorded 73 assists and was involved in eight of the Aggies' 26 double plays.

Mitchell anchored an Aggie pitching staff that lowered its team earned run average of 7.64 last season to 5.37 in 2004. He led Cameron in total victories while posting an mound record of 6-2 on the year. Mitchell also posted a team-best 4.13 ERA while recording three saves and 66 strikeouts in just over 65 innings of work. Against LSC North Division opponents this season, Mitchell was 3-1, with his only loss coming to eventual division champion East Central.

Balsiger finished third on the team this season with a .320 batting average. The senior from St. David, Ariz., who was selected by league coaches as this year's preseason player of the year in the LSC North, drew a team-high two intentional walks at the plate this season and gunned down more than a third (13 of 35) of would-be base-stealers from his catcher position.

In his first season with the Aggies, Brooks established himself as a major contributor both offensively and defensively. The Blanchard centerfielder led the Aggies and rank among the Lone Star Conference leaders with a .348 batting average this season. Brooks also led the Aggies in total hits (49) and on-base percentage (.440). He committed just one error in 64 chances defensively, as well.

Bennett was a workhorse on the mound this season, leading the Aggies in strikeouts (74) and innings pitched (68.2) while limiting opponents to a .280 batting average for the season. The Fletcher right-hander started 12 games on the mound for Cameron, finishing half of them for a team-high six complete games. Bennett also had two of the Aggies' four shutout performances this season while posting a 6-5 record with a 5.64 ERA.

First-year head coach Todd Holland guided the Aggies to a 26-19 record in 2004, marking Cameron's first winning season since 1992. The Aggies just missed out on a spot in the Lone Star Conference championship tournament after being picked to finish last in the North Division's preseason poll.

East Central led the division with six first-team selections. To view the complete Lone Star Conference baseball all-conference selections in both the North and South Divisions, visit the official LSC website at www.lonestarconference.org.