OMAHA, Neb. -- It's always important to reward consistency in college baseball, and we feel like we've done that with the release of the 2014 Perfect Game College All-Americans.
The three All-America teams are filled with players who began the season with incredibly high expectations, and of course, those who stepped up when their respective teams needed them the most.
Astonishingly, six players who began the season as Preseason First Team All-Americans finished the year as First Team All-Americans, including Indiana's Kyle Schwarber, North Carolina State's Trea Turner, Oregon State's Michael Conforto, San Francisco's Bradley Zimmer, LSU's Aaron Nola and Louisville's Nick Burdi.
Indiana's Sam Travis and Virginia's Nick Howard were first-team selections in the preseason, and are Second Team All-Americans to end the year.
Overall, Indiana leads all teams with four All-Americans, while Louisiana-Lafayette, Oregon State, Virginia and TCU each have three, with Vanderbilt, San Diego State, Louisville and Ole Miss each coming in with two selections.
Presenting the prestigious Perfect Game All-Americans:
C Max Pentecost
School: Kennesaw State
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 190
Hometown.: Winder, Ga.
High school: Winder-Barrow
Pentecost was one of the more versatile players in the country this season, hitting over .400, smacking nine homers and knocked in 61 runs. In addition to his offensive skills, Pentecost was a quality defensive catcher and had elite athleticism.
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1B Casey Gillaspie
School: Wichita State
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 238
Hometown.: Omaha, Neb.
High school: Millard North
Gillaspie was one of the best pure hitters in college baseball this season. In addition to hitting for a great average, hitting 15 homers and knocking in 50 runs, he finished the season with 30 more walks than strikeouts. Just a terrific overall hitter.
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2B Jace Conrad
School: Louisiana-Lafayette
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 195
Hometown.: Lafayette, La.
High school: Lafayette
Conrad was truly a do-it-all type of player for the Ragin' Cajuns. In addition to his leadership role, Conrad hit .364 with nine homers and 65 RBIs, was versatile on the base paths and was a steady defender with a fielding percentage of .990.
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SS Trea Turner
School: North Carolina State
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 171
Hometown.: Lake Worth, Fla.
High school: Park Vista
Though the Wolfpack didn't have a great season, the same can't be said for Turner, who was a consistent force for N.C. State. Turner hit for a solid average, showed good power and finished the year 26-for-30 in stolen bases.
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3B Dustin DeMuth
School: Indiana
Cl.: Senior Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 215
Hometown.: LaPorte, Ind.
High school: LaPorte
DeMuth was a terrific player during his career with the Hoosiers. He led the club in hitting this season with a .374 batting average, while also tying for the team lead in doubles with 16. DeMuth was a consistent player who helped guide IU.
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OF Michael Conforto
School: Oregon State
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 217
Hometown.: Woodinville, Wash.
High school: Redmond
Conforto once again established himself as an elite overall player this season. In addition to hitting .345 and displaying good power, he showed great plate discipline with 55 walks. Conforto also flashed an elite arm in the outfield.
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OF Caleb Adams
School: Louisiana-Lafayette
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 185
Hometown.: Texarkana, Texas
High school: Texas
We really loved the skills that Adams brought to the field each day this season. Adams hit .381 for the Ragin' Cajuns, displayed great power and showed in the NCAA postseason he can execute the small ball game well, too. Adams ended the year with a .502 OBP.
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OF Bradley Zimmer
School: San Francisco
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-5 Wt.: 205
Hometown.: La Jolla, Calif.
High school: La Jolla
Zimmer's status as an elite prospect was discussed thoroughly throughout the spring, but he also tallied impressive numbers. The ultra-athletic Zimmer finished the spring with 21 stolen bases, led the team in hitting and also hit for some power.
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DH Kyle Schwarber
School: Indiana
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 240
Hometown.: Middletown, Ohio
High school: Middletown
Just like his sophomore campaign last year, Schwarber was one of the nation's elite pure hitters again this season. He hit .358 with 14 homers and ended the year with an impressive 44 walks. Schwarber capped off a great career in style.
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UT A.J. Reed
School: Kentucky
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 240
Hometown.: Terre Haute, Ind.
High school: Terre Haute South
Reed was a terrific dual-threat player for the Wildcats this season. In addition to leading the team with 23 homers and 73 RBIs, Reed also led the pitching staff with a 2.09 ERA in 112 innings. Reed was clearly the nation's best overall player.
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SP Aaron Nola
School: Louisiana State
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 196
Hometown.: Baton Rouge, La.
High school: Catholic
Nola clearly was the top overall pitcher in college baseball this season. He possesses an electric three-pitch mix and tallied terrific numbers. He had a 1.47 ERA in 116 1/3 innings, along with 134 strikeouts and 27 walks. He held opposing teams to a .172 batting average.
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SP Nathan Kirby
School: Virginia
Cl.: Sophomore Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 185
Hometown.: Midlothian, Va.
High school: James River
After a typical type of freshman campaign, the talented lefthanded pitcher took a huge step forward as a sophomore, tallying a 1.73 ERA in 104 innings, along with 104 strikeouts and 25 walks. Teams hit the lefty at just a .182 clip this season. Kirby has big-time stuff with a fastball up to 94.
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SP Andrew Morales
School: UC Irvine
Cl.: Senior Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 195
Hometown.: Covina, Calif.
High school: South Hills
The outstanding righthanded pitcher had a campaign that ended with not only a CWS appearance, but also as a second-round pick to the Cardinals. Morales was Mr. Cool for the Anteaters, tallying a 1.53 ERA in 135 2/3 innings along with 141 strikeouts, 33 walks and a .185 BAA.
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SP Kyle Freeland
School: Evansville
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 170
Hometown.: Denver
High school: Jefferson
Freeland followed up a very strong summer with an even better spring for the Purple Aces, evolving into one of the nation's elite prospects and pitchers. Freeland had a 1.90 ERA in 99 2/3 innings, along with 128 strikeouts and 13 walks and a .214 BAA. Freeland simply was dominant for UE.
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RP Jacob Lindgren
School: Mississippi State
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 5-11 Wt.: 203
Hometown.: Bay St. Louis, Miss.
High school: St. Stanislaus
Lindgren established himself as one of the most versatile and consistent relievers in the country this season. He had a big-time stuff with an electric fastball and slider combination, while he also had an 0.81 ERA in 26 appearances and 55 1/3 innings pitched, along with 100 strikeouts and just 25 walks.
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RP Nick Burdi
School: Louisville
Cl.: Junior Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 215
Hometown.: Downers Grove, Ill.
High school: Downers Grove South
The dominant righthanded pitcher had the nation's premier arm in 2014, having the ability to touch 98-100 on the radar gun, while also tallying impressive numbers. He appeared in 31 games and had a 0.50 ERA in 36 innings, along with 64 strikeouts and 10 walks. Burdi ended the year with 18 saves.
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SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Pos.
|
Name
|
Class
|
AVG
|
AB
|
SLG
|
OBP
|
H
|
R
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
SB
|
C |
Grayson Greiner, South Carolina
|
Jr. |
.311 |
212 |
.486 |
.389 |
66 |
39 |
8 |
50 |
29 |
39 |
0 |
1B |
Sam Travis, Indiana |
Jr. |
.347 |
245 |
.576 |
.415 |
85 |
55 |
12 |
58 |
25 |
26 |
8 |
2B |
Dansby Swanson, Vanderbilt |
So. |
.341 |
261 |
.494 |
.419 |
89 |
61 |
3 |
34 |
35 |
46 |
20 |
SS |
Blake Trahan, La.-Lafayette |
So. |
.355 |
256 |
.465 |
.455 |
91 |
58 |
4 |
49 |
44 |
37 |
18 |
3B |
Matt Chapman, CS Fullerton |
Jr. |
.312 |
205 |
.491 |
.412 |
64 |
37 |
6 |
48 |
27 |
26 |
6 |
OF |
DJ Stewart, Florida State |
So. |
.351 |
194 |
.557 |
.472 |
68 |
45 |
7 |
50 |
40 |
30 |
4 |
OF |
Drew Weeks, North Florida |
Jr. |
.430 |
221 |
.606 |
.478 |
95 |
52 |
6 |
38 |
18 |
20 |
10 |
OF |
Jordan Luplow, Fresno State |
Jr. |
.377 |
215 |
.609 |
.475 |
81 |
40 |
9 |
48 |
36 |
22 |
10 |
DH |
Mike Papi, Virginia |
Jr. |
.314 |
226 |
.509 |
.456 |
71 |
53 |
11 |
55 |
56 |
43 |
7 |
UT |
Aaron Brown, Pepperdine |
Jr. |
.314 |
242 |
.554 |
.354 |
76 |
44 |
13 |
49 |
9 |
52 |
5 |
|
|
|
1.95 ERA |
17 G |
1 CG |
104 SO |
115.2 IP |
.212 AVG |
|
|
|
|
|
Pos. |
Name
|
Class |
W |
L |
ERA |
G |
CG |
SV |
IP |
HR |
BB |
SO |
AVG |
SP |
Jace Fry, Oregon State |
Jr. |
11 |
2 |
1.80 |
16 |
4 |
0 |
120.1 |
2 |
30 |
98 |
.196 |
SP |
Ben Wetzler, Oregon State |
Sr. |
12 |
1 |
0.78 |
14 |
4 |
0 |
104 |
1 |
83 |
31 |
.143 |
SP |
Sean Newcomb, Hartford |
Jr. |
8 |
2 |
1.25 |
14 |
1 |
0 |
93.1 |
0 |
38 |
106 |
.162 |
SP |
Preston Morrison, TCU |
Jr. |
9 |
4 |
1.32 |
18 |
5 |
0 |
129.2 |
1 |
21 |
95 |
.197 |
RP |
Nick Howard, Virginia |
Jr. |
2 |
1 |
2.05 |
28 |
0 |
19 |
30.2 |
2 |
12 |
51 |
.185 |
RP |
Riley Ferrell, TCU |
So. |
3 |
1 |
0.87 |
30 |
0 |
15 |
41.1 |
0 |
13 |
66 |
.138 |
THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Pos.
|
Name
|
Class
|
AVG
|
AB
|
SLG
|
OBP
|
H
|
R
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SO
|
SB
|
C |
Will Allen, Mississippi |
Sr. |
.341 |
264 |
.508 |
.378 |
90 |
42 |
7 |
61 |
15 |
40 |
0 |
1B |
Connor Joe, San Diego |
Jr. |
.367 |
218 |
.606 |
.462 |
80 |
59 |
9 |
51 |
32 |
24 |
3 |
2B |
Mark Mathias, Cal Poly |
So. |
.386 |
210 |
.490 |
.455 |
81 |
48 |
2 |
39 |
23 |
18 |
12 |
SS |
Vince Conde, Vanderbilt
|
Jr. |
.297 |
222 |
.401 |
.414 |
66 |
43 |
4 |
48 |
40 |
36 |
13 |
3B |
Ty France, San Diego State |
Jr. |
.356 |
233 |
.498 |
.450 |
83 |
55 |
5 |
45 |
28 |
25 |
3 |
OF |
Auston Bousfield, Mississippi |
Jr. |
.344 |
279 |
.487 |
.390 |
96 |
58 |
6 |
50 |
16 |
25 |
17 |
OF |
Mark Payton, Texas |
Sr. |
.320 |
231 |
.455 |
.461 |
74 |
33 |
2 |
38 |
56 |
23 |
19 |
OF |
Michael Katz, William & Mary |
Jr. |
.363 |
240 |
.646 |
.445 |
85 |
62 |
14 |
75 |
32 |
43 |
0 |
DH |
Daniel Miles, Tennessee Tech |
Sr. |
.380 |
237 |
.599 |
.481 |
90 |
67 |
11 |
54 |
39 |
21 |
5 |
UT |
Louie Lechich, San Diego |
Sr. |
.342 |
225 |
.542 |
.396 |
77 |
45 |
7 |
46 |
21 |
50 |
3 |
|
|
|
2.51 ERA |
13 G |
0 SV |
50 SO |
82.1 IP |
.265 AVG |
|
|
|
|
|
Pos. |
Name
|
Class |
W |
L |
ERA |
G |
CG |
SV |
IP |
HR |
BB |
SO |
AVG |
SP |
Brandon Finnegan, TCU |
Jr. |
9 |
3 |
2.12 |
16 |
1 |
0 |
97.2 |
3 |
27 |
129 |
.202 |
SP |
Kyle Funkhouser, Louisville
|
So. |
13 |
3 |
1.94 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
120.1 |
2 |
122 |
65 |
.201 |
SP |
Daniel Gossett, Clemson |
Jr. |
7 |
2 |
1.93 |
15 |
2 |
0 |
107.1 |
4 |
30 |
107 |
.202 |
SP |
Joey DeNato, Indiana |
Sr. |
13 |
1 |
1.82 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
109 |
4 |
39 |
81 |
.236 |
RP |
Brendan McCurry, Oklahoma State |
Sr. |
5 |
0 |
0.38 |
35 |
0 |
19 |
47.1 |
0 |
8 |
54 |
.178 |
RP |
Michael Cederoth, San Diego State |
Jr. |
6 |
2 |
2.28 |
32 |
0 |
20 |
51.1 |
2 |
28 |
55 |
.205 |