01/30/06–
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORMER JAG LUIS GONZALEZ TOPS ON ALL-TIME SUN
BELT TEAM
SOUTH ALABAMA PLACES NINE PLAYERS AND COACH ON ALL-TIME TEAM
CONTACT:
Kevin Sytko
MOBILE,
Ala. - Former South Alabama Jaguar and Major League super-star
Luis Gonzalez was among 10 USA alums to be named to the Sun Belt
Conference Team announced by league officials last week. Gonzalez
was also named the Sun Belts All-Time Player and Jaguar head coach
Steve Kittrell was named the leagues All-Time coach.
Major leaguers
Marlon Anderson (1993-1995), Mike Mordecai (1987-1989), Lance Johnson
(1984), John Lieber (1991-1992) and Juan Pierre (1998) were also
named to the team. Joining them were Mike Zimmerman (1988-1990),
Jason Norton (1995-1998) and Ryan Mulhern (2001-2003).
South Alabama’s
10 representatives were tops among member institutions. Louisiana-Lafayette
was second with five, highlighted by big leaguers Paul Bako and
B.J. Ryan. Middle Tennessee was represented by San Diego’s
Dewon Brazelton. Pittsburgh Pirate Brad Eldred was one of two players
from Florida International.
Over 22 seasons
Kittrell has 861 wins as the Jag skipper. He has been named coach
of the year six times and has made an amazing 17 NCAA Regional appearances.
Gonzalez was
a two-time All-American while at South Alabama still holds the school
record for RBI in one season and in a career with 83 and 183, respectively.
Along with Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, Gonzalez and the Arizona
Diamondbacks captured the 2001 World Series.
The Washington
Nationals’ Anderson was a Jag for three seasons and places
13th on USA’s all-time at-bat list (619) and the all-time
doubles list (33). He ranks sixth all time in stolen bases with
69.
Pierre was a
Jag for only one year but left his mark in the USA record book.
In single season statistics he is fifth in at-bats in season (255),
fourth in runs (77), tied for fourth in hits (95) and in stolen
bases (54). Pierre was traded to the Chicago Cubs Dec. 7, and he
is expected to be the starting center fielder.
The Philadelphia
Phillies’ Lieber played two seasons for the Jags. During that
time he posted back-to-back 140-plus strikeout seasons. Lieber also
worked an amazing 302.2 innings. His career ERA was a miniscule
2.38 and he totaled 24 wins.
Mordecai played
three seasons for South Alabama and during that time put up amazing
numbers. He still ranks in the top-10 of nearly every offensive
category, both single season and career. His single season accomplishments
are: third in games played (69), first and fourth in at-bats (262,
255), first and seventh in runs (94, 71), tied for second and tied
for fourth in hits (97, 95) and fifth in walks (57). Mordecai’s
career numbers are just as impressive. Fourth all-time in batting
average (.373), third in at bats (743), first in runs (235), first
in hits (277), fourth in RBI (174) and second in walks (146).
Johnson had
one of the most impressive seasons in collegiate baseball in 1984.
Johnson scored 83 runs, while swiping 89 bases. His amazing speed
allowed him to lead the nation in steals during 1984. Johnson went
on to have an amazing big league career that spanned 14 years. Johnson
collected 1565 hits at the major league level.
Zimmerman led
the Jaguar pitching staff still his three years at South Alabama.
During the 1990 season, he struck out 170 batters, a USA record
to this day. That same year saw him log 158.1 innings another current
Jaguar record. Zimmerman sits second all-time in strikeouts (327)
and innings pitched (370.1).
Norton was the
most dominant pitcher to play for South Alabama. During his three
years as a Jag, Norton fanned 328 batters and pitched 409.1 innings,
career Jaguar records. He posted three consecutive seasons with
100 or more strikeouts, the only Jag to ever accomplish that feat.
Mulhern played
three seasons for the Jaguars. During that time, he hit 49 home
runs. He passed Mark Johnson to take the all time Jag record of
43 on May 29, 2003. Mulhern also sits third in career hits (230)
and second in career doubles (51). During the 2005, season Mulhern
was named the Cleveland Indians Minor League Player of the Year.
ALL-TIME
SUN BELT CONFERENCE BASEBALL TEAM
-- Team voted on by 26-member media panel.
Greg Taylor
(Arkansas-Little Rock, 1995-96)
Chris Haney (Charlotte, 1988-90)
Barry Shifflett (Charlotte, 1983-86)
Brad Eldred (FIU, 1999-02)
Willy Collazo (FIU, 2000-01)
Ernie Carr (Jacksonville, 1985-88)
Mark Guerra (Jacksonville , 1994)
Talmadge Nunnari (Jacksonville, 1996-97)
Paul Bako (Louisiana-Lafayette, 1991-93
Phil Devey (Louisiana-Lafayette, 1997-99)
Nathan Nelson (Louisiana-Lafayette, 1998-00)
Papo Ramos (Louisiana-Lafayette, 1991-92)
B.J. Ryan (Louisiana-Lafayette, 1997-98)
TJ Soto (Louisiana Tech, 1997-00)
Dewon Brazelton (Middle Tennessee, 1999-01)
Josh Renick (Middle Tennessee, 2000-01)
Billy Becher (New Mexico State, 2003-04)
Thomas Diamond (New Orleans, 2002-04)
Mike Quade (New Orleans, 1976-79)
Todd Azar (Old Dominion, 1985-87)
Kevin Bearse (Old Dominion, 1984-87)
Marlon Anderson (South Alabama, 1993-95)
Luis Gonzalez (South Alabama, 1986-88)
Lance Johnson (South Alabama, 1984)
Jon Lieber (South Alabama, 1991-92)
Mike Mordecai (South Alabama, 1987-89)
Ryan Mulhern (South Alabama, 2001-03)
Jason Norton (South Alabama, 1995-98)
Juan Pierre (South Alabama, 1998)
Mike Zimmerman (South Alabama, 1988-90)
Rob Tomberlin (Western Kentucky, 1985)
Chris Turner (Western Kentucky, 1988-91)
Matt Wilhite (Western Kentucky, 2000-03)
ALL-TIME
PLAYER: Luis Gonzalez, South Alabama
ALL-TIME COACH: Steven Kittrell, South Alabama
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