May 25, 2010
Hoover, Ala. — Vanderbilt freshman second baseman Anthony Gomez and sophomore right-hander Sonny Gray were named to the All-Southeastern Conference first and second teams respectively in a vote by the league’s coaches that was released today by the conference office.
In addition to the All-SEC honors, Gomez and outfielder Connor Harrell were named to the SEC All-Freshman team, while Gray picked up SEC All-Defensive team recognition.
Gomez started the year as a reserve infielder and by the final week of the regular season became the nation’s top freshmen hitter. Entering the conference tournament he hit .398 in 49 games, including 40 starts, with two homers, eight doubles and 28 RBI.
In the field he played a solid second base with just five errors in 141 chances.
The freshman struck out just five times in 171 at bats in the regular season, ranking him among the nation’s leaders in the toughest to strikeout category.
In league action, the New Jersey native hit a team best .371 with two homers, two doubles, 15 RBI and 17 runs scored in 27 games (26 starts). He struck out just twice in 105 at bats.
Gray moved into the Friday night starter role for the Commodores this season, joining a list of players under head coach Tim Corbin that included first-round picks Jeremy Sowers, David Price and most recently Mike Minor.
The Smyrna, Tenn., native continued their legacy going 8-4 on the season with a 3.44 ERA wih 92 strikeouts and 40 walks in 86.1 innings pitched. Opponents hit just .231 against him and he earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors twice during the season in dominating shutout performances against Kentucky (seven innings, four hits) and Niagara (eight innings, three hits).
In conference play he was 5-3 with a 3.68 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 31 walks in 58.2 innings and opponents hit just .238 against him.
Defensively he did not commit an error in 23 chances with 10 putouts and 13 assists from the mound.
Gomez is the first Commodore freshman to earn first-team All-SEC honors since Pedro Alvarez in 2006. Gray earned his first all-conference nod after being named to the SEC All-Freshman team a year ago.
Harrell hit .324 with three homers, 13 doubles and 37 RBI in 51 games, including 49 starts on the year. He patrolled centerfield with ease, and made just one error in 98 chances for a .990 fielding percentage.
The Texas native also fared well in SEC play, hitting at a .316 mark with five doubles, a homer and 19 RBI.
The fifth-seeded Commodores practice on Tuesday and open postseason play against fourth-seeded Arkansas on Wednesday in the final game of the four-game day at Regions Park.
The complete 2010 All-SEC Team follows:
SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Hunter Morris, Auburn
SEC PITCHER OF THE YEAR – Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss
SEC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Austin Maddox, Florida
SEC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Cory Luckie, Auburn
SEC COACH OF THE YEAR – Kevin O’Sullivan, Florida
FIRST TEAM
1B – Hunter Morris, Auburn
2B – Anthony Gomez, Vanderbilt
3B – Zack Cox, Arkansas
SS – Josh Rutledge, Alabama
C – Micah Gibbs, LSU
OF – Taylor Dugas, Alabama
OF – Trent Mummey, Auburn
OF – Brian Fletcher, Auburn
DH – Kevin Patterson, Auburn
P – Blake Cooper, South Carolina
P – Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss
RP – Kevin Chapman, Florida
SECOND TEAM
1B – Preston Tucker, Florida
2B – Chris Bisson, Kentucky
3B – Austin Maddox, Florida
SS – Austin Nola, LSU
SS – Nolan Fontana, Florida
C – Ryan Jenkins, Auburn
OF – Matt den Dekker, Florida
OF – Brett Eibner, Arkansas
OF – Jackie Bradley Jr., South Carolina
DH – Matt Gaudet, LSU
P – Drew Smyly, Arkansas
P – Grant Dayton, Auburn
P – Sonny Gray, Vanderbilt
RP – Matt Price, South Carolina
RP – Brett Huber, Ole Miss
ALL FRESHMAN TEAM
1B – Christian Walker, South Carolina
2B – Anthony Gomez, Vanderbilt
3B – Austin Maddox, Florida
SS – Nolan Fontana, Florida
C – Mike Zunino, Florida
OF – Andrew Miller, Alabama
OF – Evan Marzilli, South Carolina
OF – Chris Fritts, Tennessee
OF – Connor Harrell, Vanderbilt
DH – Brian Johnson, Florida
P – Hudson Randall, Florida
P – Brian Johnson, Florida
P – Chris Stratton, Mississippi State
RP – Brett Huber, Ole Miss
RP – Matt Price, South Carolina
ALL DEFENSIVE TEAM
P – Sonny Gray, Vanderbilt
1B – Preston Tucker, Florida
2B – Scott Wingo, South Carolina
SS – Nolan Fontana, Florida
3B – Jake Smith, Alabama
C – Micah Gibbs, LSU
OF – Matt den Dekker, Florida
OF – Trent Mummey, Auburn
OF – Jackie Bradley Jr., South Carolina
Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own players.