July 29, 2010
2010 UT Arlington Baseball Final Season Notes 
ARLINGTON, Texas -
FOUR MAVERICKS SIGN PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS
UT Arlington had a historic draft with four players being selected in the top 17 rounds of the draft. Junior center fielder Michael Choice (1st round - 10th overall - Oakland Athletics), junior right-handed pitcher Rett Varner (6th round - 197th overall - Florida Marlins), senior right-handed pitcher Jason Mitchell (15th round - 449th overall - Kansas City Royals) and junior right-handed pitcher Logan Bawcom (17th round - 532nd overall - Los Angeles Dodgers) were taken in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
CHOICE AGREES TO TERMS WITH OAKLAND FOR $2 MILLION SIGNING BONUS
Michael Choice agreed to terms with the Oakland Athletics for a $2 million signing bonus on Wednesday, July 28. After reporting to the Athletics spring training site in Phoenix, Choice will join Oakland's Short-Season Single-A affiliate, Vancouver Canadians.
Michael Choice PICKS UP NATIONAL HARDWARE - NAMED TO FIVE ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
Michael Choice has been named to five All-America teams following his junior season and he has landed on a pair of other prestigious award lists. Choice has been awarded over 35 honors this season, including plenty of postseason hardware. Choice has received the following accolades after the 2010 season:
- 1st Team Baseball America All-America
- 1st Team Yahoo! Sports All-America
- 2nd Team PING! All-America
- 3rd Team ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-America
- 3rd Team National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America
- 1st Team ABCA South Central All-Region
- USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist (Top 30 players in the nation)
Michael Choice BECOMES HIGHEST DRAFTED MAVERICK IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Michael Choice was the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland Athletics on June 7. Choice became the highest drafted player in UTA history (2004 - Hunter Pence, 64 overall, Houston Astros) and joins Louisiana-Monroe's Ben Sheets (1999 - 10th overall to Milwaukee Brewers) as the highest drafted player in Southland Conference history.
Michael Choice DRAFT NOTES:
Choice was the first collegiate outfielder selected... he became the highest drafted collegiate outfielder since 2006 (Drew Stubbs, Texas - 8th overall - Cincinnati Reds)... he was the second overall collegiate player taken from the state of Texas... he was the third overall player selected that played for Team USA in the summer of 2009... he was the third overall collegiate position player drafted... he was the fifth overall position player taken.
HISTORIC DRAFT FOR UT ARLINGTON
UT Arlington had four players selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft as center fielder Michael Choice (1st Round - Oakland Athletics), and right-handed pitchers Rett Varner (6th Round - Florida Marlins), Jason Mitchell (15th Round - Kansas City Royals) and Logan Bawcom (17th Round - Los Angeles Dodgers) were all drafted. Four draft picks are the most Mavericks ever selected in a single draft in UTA history. It was only the second time in UTA history that two players were drafted in the top six rounds (2004). Three pitchers are the most Maverick pitchers to ever get selected in a single draft in UTA history. UTA was the only Southland Conference school with multiple players drafted in the top 20 rounds, as five other SLC programs each had one player in the top 20 rounds drafted. It was just the fourth time in Southland history that four players from one program were all drafted in the top 20 rounds (first time since 2007). UTA became the first program in conference history to have all three conference starters drafted in the top 20 rounds. It marked just the fourth time in league history that a team lost all three conference starters in the same draft.
Preston Beck NAMED LOUISVILLE SLUGGER FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA
Preston Beck was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He became the third Maverick in school history to earn Freshman All-America honors, joining Michael Choice (2008) and Darrell Preston (2001). Beck was one of three Southland Conference freshmen who were named to the list (UTSA 3B Ryan Dalton & Southeastern Louisiana's P Jordan Hymel). Beck led all freshmen in the conference with a .352 batting average, 82 hits and with 233 at-bats. He finished the season with a freshman school record 20-game hit streak.
Jason Mitchell NAMED A SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jason Mitchell was named a Southland Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Each conference institution had a male and female student-athlete that was named a Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Mitchell was the UTA male representative.
FOUR MAVERICKS - TWO FIRST TEAM - NAMED TO SOUTHLAND ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Four UT Arlington baseball student-athletes were named to the Southland Conference All-Academic team, as Jason Mitchell (first team), Rett Varner (first team), Jordan Vaughn (second team) and Mark Picca (second team) were among the top 24 student-athletes in the conference who had at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and who were voted on by each institutions head coach, sports information director and academic/compliance administrators.
UTA LANDS 15 BASEBALL STUDENT-ATHLETES ON SOUTHLAND COMMISSIONER'S HONOR ROLL
UT Arlington was tied for third in the Southland Conference with 15 baseball student-athletes named to the Capital One Bank/Southland Conference Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll. Mavericks who finished the semester with a 3.0 or above were Preston Beck, Steffan Guest Shane Hopkins Jesse Payne, Rett Varner, Brian Watson, Josh Christenson, Cody Dyvig, Nick Orr, David Walsh, Brian Nephew, Calan Pritchard, Daniel Garcia, Mark Picca and Adam Boydston.
UT ARLINGTON FINISHES THIRD AT SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
The UTA baseball team finished third at the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament with a 2-2 record in tournament action. The Mavericks won their first two games over Stephen F. Austin (10-4) and Nicholls (5-4) before falling 5-4 and 15-10 in back-to-back games against Texas State. The Bobcats eliminated the Mavericks before they were defeated 17-10 in the title game against Lamar, who clinched the automatic berth as SLC champions to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Michael Choice & Jordan Vaughn NAMED SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
- Center fielder Michael Choice and first baseman Jordan Vaughn were named to the Southland Conference All-Tournament team. Choice and Vaughn are the first Mavericks to earn all-tournament team since UTA won the tournament title in 2006 and had five selections. Choice is the first UTA outfielder to earn all-tourney since 2003 (Paul Bruder) and becomes the fourth Maverick outfielder all-time to earn an all-tournament selections. Vaughn is just the second UTA first baseman to be named all-tournament and the first since 2006 (Robby Winn). It is the fifth time in UTA history that multiple Mavericks have been named to the team. Choice and Vaughn were the top two hitters for the Mavs in four tournament games combining for 12 hits, nine runs, four extra-base hits (three doubles) and seven RBI. Choice batted .385 (5-for-13) with five runs, a double, triple and two RBI with five walks and a .579 on-base percentage and .615 slugging percentage. Vaughn led the Mavs batting .389 (7-for-18) in four tournament games with four runs, two doubles and five RBI. He hit safely in all four tournament games with a pair of multi-hit games.
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
C: Joey Latulippe, Lamar
1B: Jordan Vaughn, UT Arlington
2B: Clint Vest, Texas State
3B: Kyle Kubitza, Texas State
SS: Jason Martinson, Texas State
OF: Michael Choice, UT Arlington
OF: Tyler Sibley, Texas State
OF: Anthony Moore, Lamar - MVP
DH: Jeff McVaney, Texas State
P: Clint Dempster, Nicholls
P: Jonathan Dziedzic, Lamar
UT ARLINGTON NOTES AT SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
- UT Arlington is 24-26 all-time at the Southland Conference Tournament since its first appearance in 1993... UTA is 3-4 in tournament games played in Corpus Christi, Texas (1-2 in 2009; 2-2 in 2010)... Third-year head coach Darin Thomas is 3-6 in SLC Tournament games (0-2 in 2008; 1-2 in 2009; 2-2 in 2010).
- The Mavericks' 10 runs against Texas State is tied for their seventh most in a Southland Conference Tournament game... It was the first time in school history that UTA had scored 10 runs and lost (8-1)... UTA's 29 runs in four Southland Conference Tournament games mark the most by UTA since 2003 (40 runs in six games) and the third most in a tournament run in school history... 29 runs is the most in school history in four or fewer games played in a tournament (18 runs in three games, 1995)... It was the first time since 2003 that UTA had scored at least 10 runs in two games during one SLC Tournament (2003: 15 vs. Louisiana-Monroe; 12 vs. McNeese State).
- UTA played in back-to-back one-run games for the first time in school history (defeated Nicholls 5-4; lost to Texas State 5-4)... UTA played in two one-run contests in the tournament marking the 13th time with UTA 6-7 all-time in one-run tournament games.
- Mavericks first win at the tournament snapped a four-game losing streak in SLC Tournament opening round games... Previous most recent win for the Mavs in a tournament opener was in 2004 (9-7 vs. Texas State in Hammond, La.)... Mavs went on to lose their next two games in the 2004 tournament.
- It was the fourth time in UTA history and the first time since 1999 (11-8 over Northwestern State in Monroe, La.) that UTA scored at least 10 runs in a tournament opener... UTA scored at least 10 runs in their opener in 1995 (11-3 over Northwestern State in Shreveport, La.), 1997 (11-10 over Texas State in Monroe, La.) and 1999... Mavericks are a perfect 4-0 when scoring at least 10 runs in a tournament opener.
- Mavs contest against Nicholls marked the first time the Mavericks and Colonels had met in the Southland Conference Tournament... Nicholls was the Mavs' 10th opponent all-time at the SLC Tournament.
- It was only the fourth time in school history that UTA had won its opening two games at the tournament (1999, 2001, 2003)... Three previous times UTA played for the championship... The only time UTA has won three straight games to open a tournament was in 1999 (lost two straight against Texas State in championship game).
TWO MAVERICK OPPONENTS ADVANCE TO COLLEGE WORLD SERIES IN OMAHA
Two of UTA's opponents advanced to the College World Series in Omaha as TCU won 2-of-3 games at the Austin Super Regional against No. 2 seed Texas. Oklahoma made it to Omaha with a Super Regional victory in game three against of its best two out of three series against Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.
SEVEN UT ARLINGTON OPPONENTS MAKE NCAA TOURNAMENT FIELD OF 64
Seven of UT Arlington's opponents from the 2010 season made the NCAA Tournament field with three teams earning #1 seeds, a pair grabbing #2 seeds and two teams reaching the field as #4 seeds. Texas (46-11), TCU (46-11) and Oklahoma (44-15) will all host regional tournaments while Texas is the No. 2 overall national seed. Baylor (34-22) and Texas A&M (40-19-1) made their way into the Fort Worth Regional and Corral Gables Regional, respectively, as No. 2 seeds and Oral Roberts (35-22) will be in the Norman Regional as a No. 4 seed and Southland Conference Tournament champion Lamar (35-24) earned an automatic bid and will be in the Fort Worth Regional Tournament.
Michael Choice NAMED SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PLAYER & HITTER OF THE YEAR
Michael Choice was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year, Hitter of the Year and was a first team all-conference selection as the league announced its all-conference teams and awards on Monday. Choice becomes the first player in Southland Conference history to receive both the Conference Player of the Year and Conference Freshman of the Year (2008) during his career. Choice becomes the fourth UTA player ever to be awarded the conference player and hitter of the year. Choice joins Hunter Pence (2004), Ryan Roberts (2003) and Clay Gould (1993) as the only UTA players to earn SLC Player of the Year and he joins Pence (2004), Roberts (2003) and Trey Hillman (1982) as the only Mavs to win the SLC Hitter of the Year award. It is the second year in a row that the Southland Player of the Year was also awarded the conference hitter of the year (Paul Goldschmidt, TXST). Choice, who was a second team all-conference pick in 2008 and a first team selection last season, joins Trey Hillman (1982-85) and Lawrence Hanlon (1989-91) as the only three-time all-conference selections in school history. Hillman is the only three-time first team all-conference selection in UTA history. Hanlon was a first team pick in 1989 and 1990 while earning second team honors in 1991.
MITCHELL & COMER NAMED SECOND TEAM - BECK, GUEST & VARNER RECEIVE HONORABLE MENTION ALL-SLC
Joining Michael Choice on the Southland All-Conference teams was catcher Chad Comer and right-handed pitcher Jason Mitchell, who were both tabbed second team. Comer is the first Maverick catcher since 2006 (Adam Moore) to be named all-conference. Comer is the third UTA catcher in the past decade (Moore, Alvarado, 2001) and just the fifth Maverick catcher since 1985 to be tabbed all-conference. Mitchell is the Mavs 12th pitcher to be named all-conference since 2000. He is the fourth UTA pitcher since 2005 to make an all-conference team. Chad Comer (catcher) has thrown out at least 20 base runners the past two seasons and he is currently among team leaders with 14 doubles and 44 RBI. Steffan Guest (DH) leads the Mavericks with 21 doubles - ranking second in the conference - while his .323 batting average and 73 base hits are among the top 20 in the conference. Preston Beck (OF) leads all freshman in the conference in batting (.350) and base hits (76) and also has 10 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 40 RBI in his first collegiate season.
Rett Varner NAMED SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Right-handed pitcher Rett Varner was named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week on the final week of the regular season. Varner threw his first career complete-game shutout leading the UTA to a 6-0 victory over Texas State (5/21) in San Marcos. It was Varner's third complete game of the season. He needed only 100 pitches (69 strikes) in his performance where he scattered seven hits without walking a batter and struck out four in his team-leading seventh win of the season. Varner never threw three balls to a batter and made it through five innings throwing only 51 pitches.
MAVS EQUAL SCHOOL RECORD FOR CONFERENCE WINS IN A SEASON
UT Arlington matched the school record for conference wins in a single-season with a 19-14 conference record this season. They equaled the win total the Mavericks posted last season when they went 19-13, with the regular season finale cancelled due to rain. Last season the Southland Conference increased its amount of league games to 33. The previous two years (2007-2008) teams played 30 conference games and from 1999-2005, the Southland Conference played 28 league games each season.
Michael Choice CONTINUES STREAK: 72 STRAIGHT GAMES REACHING BASE SAFELY
Michael Choice reached base safely in 72 consecutive games dating back to the 2009 season. The last game Choice did not reach base with a base hit/hit by pitch or walk was against Oklahoma State (4/28/09) going 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly. He finished the 2009 season with a 12-game hit streak and this season hit safely in 46 of 60 games. In the 14 games Choice hasn't recorded a base hit he has tallied 23 walks, four hit by pitch and he had four walks against Missouri State (2/26).
Preston Beck BREAKS UTA FRESHMAN HIT STREAK RECORD AT 20 GAMES - BATTED .420 DURING HIT STREAK
Right fielder Preston Beck set a UT Arlington freshman hitting streak record with a 20-game hit streak. During the streak, Beck batted .420 (37-for-88) with 13 runs, eight doubles, one home run, six walks and 26 RBI. Beck raised his batting average 42 points during the 20-game streak. He tallied the longest hitting streak by a Maverick during the 2010 season and it is the longest hit streak by a UTA player since former Maverick Andrew Kainer broke the school and Southland Conference record with a 36-game hit streak. He led all Southland Conference freshmen with a .352 batting average, 82 base hits and with 233 at-bats.
UTA SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR CONFERENCE ROAD VICTORIES
UT Arlington set a school record for conference road wins (11), which was the first time in school history that a Maverick squad had a double-figure win total on the road. UTA won nine road games in conference play in 2005, 2003 and 1992. UT Arlington won its second conference title during the 1992 campaign. In fact, three of the top 12 single-season road conference win totals belong to third-year coach Darin Thomas, who in his tenure as head coach at UTA has won 11 games (2010) and seven games twice (2008-2009) on the road during the Southland Conference schedule.
SIX SHUTOUTS IS THE MOST BY THE MAVERICKS SINCE 1992
UT Arlington's 6-0 shutout over Texas State (5/21) was its sixth of the season, marking the most by the Mavericks since 1992 (7). The school record for shutouts in a single-season is 10, done twice in UTA history (1980, 1987).
PITCHING STAFF BREAKS UTA SINGLE-SEASON STRIKEOUT RECORD FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON - LEADS SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE
For the second consecutive season the UT Arlington pitching staff broke the school single-season strikeout record. This year's staff finished with 464 strikeouts, breaking the previous record of 410 set in 2009. The Mavericks also led the Southland Conference with five more strikeouts than Northwestern State (459). Most notably, the three weekend starting pitchers for the Mavericks (Jason Mitchell: 113, Rett Varner: 95, Logan Bawcom: 87) made up 64 percent of the team's strikeout total.
Michael Choice BREAKS SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SINGLE-SEASON WALKS RECORD - 76 WALKS THIS SEASON
Michael Choice broke the Southland Conference single-season walks record as he moved past Lamar's Kerry Christensen who set the previous record of 68 walks in 1982. Choice broke the record in only 52 games while Christensen and Lamar played in 64 games in 1982. Choice broke the UTA all-time single-season record in a three-walk effort against Dallas Baptist (5/4). The previous UTA all-time single-season record was 61 walks by former Maverick and Major League shortstop Dave Owen in 1978 (62 games). The all-time NCAA record for walks in a single-season belongs to Coby Kerlin of Texas, who in 1985 (76 games) received 112 walks.
Jason Mitchell BREAKS UT ARLINGTON SINGLE-SEASON STRIKEOUT RECORD
Jason Mitchell broke the UTA all-time single-season strikeout record with his 105th strikeout of the season which came against Lamar on May 15 at Clay Gould Ballpark. The previous record was set by Nathan Long (104) in 2009. Mitchell set the new strikeout record at 113. Mitchell made 19 appearances (16 starts) and averaged 9.1 strikeouts per 9 innings. He posted a 4.66 ERA in 112.0 innings and combined on three shutouts and had two complete-game shutouts on the year. He pitched five complete games during conference play - including three consecutively. Mitchell issued only 30 walks while opponents batted .275 against him.
Michael Choice'S PURSUIT OF THE SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE TRIPLE CROWN
For most of the season Michael Choice was in contention for the Southland Conference triple crown. He finished the season leading the league in batting (.383), ranked fourth in home runs (16) and fifth in RBI (59). He won the batting title with a double in his last at-bat of the season at the Southland Conference Tournament. Choice edged out Northwestern State's Eric DeBlanc who finished with a .382 batting average. Choice's home run total was just one off the league lead as Trey Hernandez (AMCC), Ryan Dalton (UTSA) and Lee Orr (MCN) all finished with a conference best 17. Choice's 59 RBI trailed Southeastern Louisiana's Justin Boudreaux (66) by seven, while Steven Irvine (MCN - 64), Trey Hernandez (AMCC - 63) and Kyle Livingstone (TXST - 63) were second, third and fourth in the league.
Michael Choice LED THE NATION IN WALKS WITH 75 IN 60 GAMES
Teams learned that the easiest way to not let Michael Choice beat them is by not throwing him a strike. The junior All-American cooperated with an NCAA best 76 walks in 60 games played. Rice's Anthony Rendon was second behind Choice with 65 walks (63 games). Choice had 21 games where he received multiple walks, including eight three-walk games and one game with four walks. He was walked at least once in 28 of his last 33 games and in 34 of the last 40 games. He finished with 47 more walks than he had a year ago when he led the team with 29. Choice's 76 walks are a Southland Conference and UTA single-season record. Choice was either walked or hit by pitch in 51 of his last 133 plate appearances.
Michael Choice: UT ARLINGTON HOME RUN KING
Michael Choice broke the UT Arlington all-time career home run record in 2010 and finished the season setting the new career record at 34. Choice hit 34 home runs in 12 ballparks, including six in Southland ballparks and three at Big 12 stadiums. He hit 18 on the road and 16 at Clay Gould Ballpark. Choice hit home runs against 21 opponents and against 33 different pitchers. The only pitcher to allow a pair of long balls to Choice was Central Arkansas' Bobby Pritchett (4/18/09). He hit 13 solo homers, nine two-run home runs, nine three-run homers and three grand slams.
Jason Mitchell IS FIRST MAVERICK SINCE 2001 TO HAVE TWO SHUTOUTS IN SOUTHLAND PLAY
Jason Mitchell had a pair of complete-game shutouts in Southland play becoming the first Maverick since 2001 (Pierce Loveless) to accomplish the feat. Mitchell tossed a three-hit complete-game shutout with nine strikeouts against Nicholls (4/1) and tallied seven strikeouts with a three-hit complete-game shutout against Stephen F. Austin (5/7).
Darin Thomas' TEAMS HOLD LEADS
In three seasons under Maverick head coach Darin Thomas, UT Arlington has been tough when holding leads after 2/3 of the game is complete. The Mavericks are 67-8 under Thomas when leading after six innings. In fact, UTA went 21-2 in 2010 when leading after six innings and was 23-3 last season.
Michael Choice & Jason Mitchell NAMED SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Michael Choice was named the Southland Conference Hitter of the Week for the third time in his career and Jason Mitchell earned Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week honors for the fourth time this season. Choice hit two home runs against Stephen F. Austin and broke the UTA all-time single-season walks record while Mitchell tossed a three-hit complete-game shutout against SFA on Friday, May 7. Mitchell is the first Maverick in school history to ever win four Southland Conference Player of the Week awards in one season. Jake Baxter was named pitcher of the week three times in 2005. Choice was awarded hitter of the week twice last season.
CHOICE/MITCHELL FIRST UTA DUO TO SWEEP SLC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS SINCE 2004
Michael Choice (SLC Hitter of the Week) and Jason Mitchell (SLC Pitcher of the Week) are the first set of Maverick teammates to sweep the Southland Conference Player of the Week awards since Darrell Preston (Hitter) and Michael Gardner (Pitcher) took home the awards on April 12, 2004.
Jason Mitchell NAMED COLLEGE BASEBALL INSIDER CENTRAL REGION PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Jason Mitchell's three-hit complete-game shutout has earned him another prestigious recognition as he was named the College Baseball Insider Central Region Pitcher of the Week. Earlier this season Mitchell earned several national, regional and conference honors after striking out a school and Southland record 18 batters against Missouri State (2/26). He was selected the top pitcher in the Central Region, which consists of nine conferences with 87 programs represented at the NCAA Division I level: Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Horizon, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, Southland, Summit and Independent.
Michael Choice BECOMES FIRST MAVERICK TO...
Michael Choice became the first Maverick to do a lot of things during his career and after his junior season he can add the following to the list:
- First UTA player to ever have three consecutive 50-RBI seasons.
- First UTA player to ever lead the team in home runs in three straight years.
- First UTA player to ever lead the team in home runs and walks in back-to-back seasons.
Darin Thomas BECOMES FASTEST MAVERICK COACH TO WIN 50 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE GAMES
Darin Thomas became the fastest UTA baseball coach to win 50 Southland Conference games on Saturday, May 1, with a 9-1 win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in just his 85th conference game and in his third year as head coach. The previous mark was set by former head coach Jeff Curtis who won 50 conference games in 86 tries. Thomas is just the third coach in UTA history to win 50 conference games joining Curtis and long-time head coach Butch McBroom, who won his 50th conference game in 118 games.
Michael Choice RANKED SECOND IN THE NATION IN ON-BASE PERCENTAGE
Michael Choice finished second in the nation with a .568 on-base percentage (High Point's Nate Roberts, .573). Choice finished with 29 extra-base hits in 196 at-bats along with 46 singles. Since March 28 - spanning the last 33 games - Choice reached base safely in 109-of-172 (63%) plate appearances.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR Michael Choice YOU WILL FIND HIM ON BASE
Michael Choice broke a school record and led the Southland Conference with a .568 on-base percentage, which ranked second in the nation, but reaching base at a high percentage is just half of the conversation. Choice reached base safely in 72 consecutive games dating back to last season, but through the 2009 season and into the end of his freshman year in 2008, Choice reached base safely in 118 of his last 120 games played. Only twice in 2009 did Choice not reach base safely (April 28 - at Oklahoma State/April 25 - at Stephen F. Austin). In his career at UTA, Choice reached base safely in 157 of 166 career games played. Only seven games during his freshman season did Choice not reach base safely via base hit, hit by pitch or walk.
Jesse Payne HITS SAFELY IN SEVEN CONSECUTIVE PLATE APPEARANCES
Shortstop Jesse Payne had his streak of seven base hits in seven consecutive plate appearances come to an end as he flew out to left field in his first at-bat against Dallas Baptist on Tuesday. Payne had base hits in seven straight plate appearances with a single and double in his final two PA against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (May 1) before ending the TAMCC series with a 5-for-5 effort on Sunday, May 2. The school record for base hits in consecutive plate appearances is nine, set by Chad McBroom in 1997.
JESSE PAYNE/JORDAN VAUGHN EACH HAVE FIVE-HIT GAMES IN SAME WEEKEND
It had been four years since a Maverick had five hits in a game, then twice in the same weekend two Mavericks accomplished the feat as first baseman Jordan Vaughn went 5-for-6 on Friday, April 30, against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and then in the series finale on Sunday, May 2 against the Islanders, shortstop Jesse Payne went 5-for-5. Vaughn's career day included five singles, two runs and three RBI while Payne tallied two triples, a double and two singles with four runs scored and five RBI. The last Maverick to have five hits in a game was Ben Burum, who went 5-for-5 with three runs, three doubles and four RBI against McNeese State in Lake Charles, La. (4/15/06).
BAWCOM PROVIDING CONSISTENCY IN SUNDAY STARTS
Junior Logan Bawcom proved to be the answer for the Mavericks on the mound on Sunday's in Southland Conference play. Since taking over as the Sunday starter for UTA on March 21 at UTSA, Bawcom pitched at least 7.0 innings in seven of his final 10 starts of the season. Bawcom started his streak winning five out of his first seven starts (March 21-May 2).
Michael Choice NAMED BASEBALL AMERICA MIDSEASON FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA
Baseball America announced its Midseason College All-America team on April 8 and UT Arlington's Michael Choice was one of three outfielders in the country named a first team selection. The publication's midseason team included the top 15 players (10 position players, 5 pitchers) in the country.
Michael Choice BREAKS UTA SINGLE-SEASON INTENTIONAL WALKS RECORD
In only 32 games, Michael Choice broke the UTA single-season intentional walks record that was previously set in 2006 by current Seattle Mariners catcher Adam Moore with seven. Choice set the record at 21 intentional walks. He broke the single-season intentional walks record against then-No. 22 Southeastern La. (4/11/10). Choice broke the record while receiving his sixth walk in six consecutive plate appearances. Choice also owns the UTA career intentional walks record with 21 after receiving two as a freshman and three in 2009.
Jason Mitchell EARNS THIRD SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Senior right-handed pitcher Jason Mitchell was named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week on April 5, for the third time this season and for the second straight week. Mitchell becomes the first pitcher in the league to win the award in consecutive week in over five years. He was also named conference pitcher of the week on March 29 and March 2.
SEVEN MAVERICKS LAND ON MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL OPENING DAY ROSTERS
UT Arlington is well represented on Major League Baseball's Opening Day on Monday with seven former players on rosters. Four active players, two coaches and a manager represent the Mavericks as Trey Hillman (Kansas City Royals, manager), Dave Owen (Kansas City Royals, third-base coach), Steve Foster (Kansas City Royals, bullpen coach), John Lackey (Boston Red Sox, pitcher), Mark Lowe (Seattle Mariners, pitcher), Hunter Pence (Houston Astros, outfielder) and Adam Moore (Seattle Mariners) will all be with their respective teams for Opening Day.
UTA IS ONE OF ONLY SEVEN PROGRAMS IN THE NATION TO LAND THREE PLAYERS ON SELECT WATCH LISTS
UT Arlington is one of only seven programs in the nation to land three players on three prestigious national award watch lists. Michael Choice (USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award), Chad Comer (Johnny Bench Award) and Jason Mitchell (National Pitcher of the Year) have all been listed among the nation's elite. The only programs in the country that can lay claim to that is Arkansas, Coastal Carolina, Florida State, LSU, Ohio State, Texas, UC Irvine and UT Arlington.
Jason Mitchell THROWS THIRD STRAIGHT COMPLETE GAME
Senior Jason Mitchell notched his third consecutive complete game with his first career complete-game shutout in a 4-0 victory over Nicholls on Thursday, April 1. Mitchell struck out nine and didn't walk a batter while allowing three base hits. Mitchell also tossed complete games at UTSA (3/19) and Northwestern State (3/26). He becomes the first Maverick to tally three consecutive complete games since Grant Varnell and Jake Baxter both threw three straight in 2005.
Jason Mitchell EARNS SECOND SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Senior Jason Mitchell was named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season after tossing his second straight complete game in a 3-1 victory over Northwestern State (3/26). Mitchell struck out six in the victory while allowing only one run on five hits with two walks. Mitchell is the only pitcher in the league to earn pitcher of the week honors on multiple occasions this season.
Jesse Payne HITS FIRST CAREER GRAND SLAM - FIRST UTA INFIELDER SINCE 2004 TO HIT SLAM
Shortstop Jesse Payne hit his first career and the Mavs first grand slam of the season with a shot in the fourth inning of UTA's 5-11 loss to Northwestern State (3/27). Payne became the first Maverick infielder since 2004 (Aaron Batlle - third baseman) to hit a grand slam. There have been seven grand slams by UT Arlington since 2003, with three of them coming last season by Michael Choice (2) and Matt Otteman (1).
Jason Mitchell NAMED TO NATIONAL PITCHER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
The College Baseball Foundation announced its National Pitcher of the Year watch list on Tuesday and UT Arlington's Jason Mitchell was one of 49 pitchers in the country who were named to the list. Mitchell is one of only two pitchers from the Southland Conference to join the nation's elite (Josh Janway, Southeastern Louisiana).
Chad Comer NAMED TO JOHNNY BENCH AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior catcher Chad Comer has been named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, which was announced Monday, March 1, by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. The award, which is given annually to the top collegiate catcher, will be narrowed down to 10 semifinalists on May 19. Finalists for the award will be announced June 2.
Steffan Guest ENDS BACK-TO-BACK GAMES IN WALK-OFF STYLE
Senior Steffan Guest had back-to-back walk-off, game-winning base hits for UT Arlington against Missouri State. Guest hit an RBI single up the middle to end a 14-inning marathon to give the Mavericks a 1-0 victory against the Bears on Friday, Feb. 26. The following game, Guest led the Mavs to a victory in more dramatic fashion with a three-run, walk-off homer over the left-field fence at Clay Gould Ballpark to give UTA a 9-6 victory.
Jason Mitchell BREAKS SCHOOL STRIKEOUT RECORD
Jason Mitchell broke the UT Arlington single-game strikeout record with 18 strikeouts against Missouri State (2/26). Mitchell carried a no-hitter through 8.2 innings and finished the game pitching 9.0 innings, allowing no runs and one walk throwing 134 pitches (85 strikes). His 18 strikeouts broke the UTA all-time record (previously 16 set by Roger Lancaster against UTSA, 4/27/97).
MORE ON MITCHELL'S PERFORMANCE
Mitchell became the first Maverick ever to carry a no-hitter through 8.2 innings. There have been five no-hitters in the history of UTA baseball, all coming in 7.0 inning games. The last UTA no-hitter was in 1983 (Duane Mitchell, at Baylor). Mitchell struck out at least two batters in every inning he pitched except for the eighth inning (struck out one). He struck out the first two batters in the ninth inning before giving up a single up the middle - which ended the no-hit big - and then struck out a third batter to end the ninth inning. Mitchell entered the season with a career-high six strikeouts (vs. TAMCC, 5/3/09).
JASON MITCHELL/ADAM BOYDSTON TIE NCAA ALL-TIME STRIKEOUT RECORD
Jason Mitchell and Adam Boydston combined for 26 strikeouts against Missouri State, which tied the NCAA all-time record for strikeouts by a pitching staff in a game. Boydston struck out a career-high eight in five innings while earning the win for the Mavs. The duo tied the NCAA all-time record that happened just twice before, with the most recent by Murray State vs. Austin Peay (15 inn.) on April 12, 1987, and the first time by Miami (OH) vs. Wright State on April 30, 1971. The previous Southland record for strikeouts by a pitching staff was 22 by Central Arkansas vs. Sam Houston State last season.
MITCHELL EARNS THREE NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
Jason Mitchell was named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and a day later was named the National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the National Player of the Week by CollegeBaseballInsider.com. Mitchell is the third Maverick to be named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week since 2003 (Nathan Long, 2009; Ryan Roberts, 2003).
Michael Choice COLLECTS EARLY SEASON HARDWARE, NAMED TO FOUR PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
Michael Choice was named to four preseason All-America teams, including NCBWA (3rd team), Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (2nd Team), PING (2nd Team) and Baseball America (2nd Team). Choice was also named to USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award Watch List, which is a list of the top 50 amateur players in collegiate baseball. Numerous other publications selected Choice with preseason recognition.
