June 17, 2008
University Park, Pa. - Catcher Joe Blackburn and relief pitcher Drew O'Neil were named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Mideast Region second team, it was announced today by the ABCA. The duo marks the first time in eight years, since the 2000 season, that Penn State baseball has had an honoree on the ABCA All-Region teams. Former Nittany Lions Michael Campo and Shawn Fagan were each named to the ABCA All-Region first team in 2000.
Blackburn exhausted his collegiate eligibility at the conclusion of this past season while O'Neil had one year of eligibility remaining, however both recently signed professional contract. Blackburn last week signed with the Traverse City (Mich.) Beach Bums of the independent Frontier League while O'Neil signed last week with the Chicago White Sox after being drafted in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft earlier this month, becoming the third highest drafted player ever from Penn State.
Drew O'Neil was the relief pitcher on the second team ABCA All-Mideast Region Team. |
Blackburn, a native of Sinking Spring, Pa., was second on the team this year in hitting at .342 and led the Nittany Lions in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He also was 10-for-11 on stolen bases while playing in 56 of 58 games and started 54 of them, most as the team's primary catcher and also some at DH. Blackburn also co-led the team with 20 extra-base hits and was second in RBI (43) and third in total bases (93).
O'Neil was rewarded by coming back for his redshirt junior season as he climbed four rounds in the MLB draft over last year, when he was picked in the eighth round. O'Neil did that by compiling a 1.88 ERA in 28.2 innings of work and 26 appearances, allowing 21 hits and eight runs, just six earned and only one extra base hit on the year. He limited opposing hitters to a .208 batting average and struck out 24. He equaled his own school record by recording 11 saves for the second straight season and also broke the school record for career saves. He was 22-for-23 in his Penn State career in save opportunities.