First Bobcat is named to freshman All-American team

Jun 17 2009 - 2:58pm | Keff Ciardello

Tyler Sibley, freshman infielder, was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team, following a season in which he hit for a .367 average with 10 home runs, 13 doubles, 38 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

Sibley is the first Bobcat recipient of the accolade.

“Being named the first Freshman All-American in Bobcat history is a very special accomplishment and honor to me,” Sibley said. “I decided to come to Texas State to have the opportunity to get some early playing time, which I was blessed to get. That opportunity, along with inserting me into a very potent lineup, just seemed to click for us and helped us win a lot of baseball games.”

Sibley was also a second-team Southland Conference selection. He scored a Texas State and league best single-season record of 77 runs. Thomas Field, former shortstop, set the previous Texas State record of 66 last year and McNeese State’s Ben Broussard set the SLC record of 74 in 1999.

Joining Sibley as All-Americans were Paul Goldschmidt, junior first baseman, and Kane Holbrooks, senior pitcher. Holbrooks was named to the second team after boasting a 10-1 record as a starting pitcher and Goldschmidt was named to third team after registering a .353 batting average and 17 home runs, according to collegiatebaseball.com.

“Paul and Kane were the backbone of the team, at the plate and on the mound,” Sibley said. “I think Paul was a huge contributor to my successes both on and off the field. The way he carried himself everyday was a great example of how to be a professional when going about your business.”

Goldschmidt and Holbrooks were two of four Bobcats taken on the second day of the MLB draft June 10. Ben Theriot, junior catcher, and Lance Loftin, senior infielder, were also drafted.

Sibley said because of these accomplishments, and a season in which the Bobcats went 41-16, the expectations for next year are greater.

“In my mind, I think we will be better in 2010 than in 2009 just because of our development, new crop of the pitching staff, and further growth in our lineup,” Sibley said. “I feel, with the help of supportive teammates, I grew a lot in the maturity aspect of the game. Whether it was after a 0-5 day or a mental mistake somewhere during the game, I feel as the season wore on I learned to stay on that even keel rather than riding an emotional rollercoaster.”

One thing that could stay consistent, according to Sibley, is his at-bat song, “Jitterbug” by Wham, which was issued to him by the upperclassmen as part of his freshman initiation.

“I began to like the song, heck it’s on my iPod now, so I can hear it before every game I play,” Sibley said. “I think I’ll end up using it again.”

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