*Courtesy of K-State Sports Information*
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Jake Scudder was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 Second Team, Clayton Dalrymple picked up his first All-Big 12 honor and named to the First Team, and Josh Rolette was tabbed All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and All-Big 12 Freshman Team as the conference announced its end-of-season awards.
The trio of Wildcats that garnered Big 12 honors was headlined by Scudder, a transfer from Iowa Western Community College who became the first Wildcat to be named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and sixth ever to earn an individual award from the conference. Dalrymple, meanwhile, broke out for a career year in his senior campaign to earn his first conference accolade.
The team and awards were voted on by the league’s head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own players.
A junior from Rock Island, Illinois, Scudder became the first Wildcat to lead the Big 12 in conference-only hitting since 2013 as he batted .407 with seven doubles, four home runs and 17 RBI in 24 league contests. The junior reached base in every Big 12 game, posting a .466 OBP, while he ended the conference slate with an 18-game hitting streak.
Scudder also tied for the league lead with 37 hits in conference-only games, making him the first hitter to pace the Big 12 in both batting average and hits in league play since Erich Weiss of Texas in 2012. He ranked third in slugging percentage, fourth in total bases and sixth in OBP as well.
From Coppell, Texas, Dalrymple was just one of two seniors named to the All-Big 12 First Team after hitting .323 with career-highs in hits (71), doubles (12), RBI (25), runs (47), stolen bases (14) and walks (28). He ended the regular season tied for third among Big 12 players in hits and runs for overall games while also ranking second in stolen bases. Defensively, the center fielder committed just one error in 134 chances in center field.
Dalrymple was consistent between league and non-conference action as he batted .323 with five doubles, a triple, a home run, 11 RBI and 18 runs scored in all 24 Big 12 games.
The team leader in RBI for conference-only games with 20, Rolette became the first Wildcat freshman to earn All-Big 12 honors since Jake Matthys in 2013. Rolette, who played in 54 of K-State’s 55 games, hit .298 with 13 doubles, six home runs and 34 RBI in his rookie campaign. The homers were the most by a K-State freshman since Jared King had eight in 2011 while the baker’s dozen doubles were the most since Blair DeBord had 13 in 2010.
Rolette was the most productive hitter for K-State in conference-only games as he not only led the Wildcats in RBI but all Big 12 freshmen as well. The designated hitter and catcher also hit five of his six home runs in conference games, which were the most by a Wildcat freshman since Brett Reid had the most in the Big 12 era – five – in 1999.
Rolette is the seventh Wildcat to ever be named All-Big 12 Freshman Team since the honor began in 2011.
Under head coach Brad Hill, K-State has garnered 51 All-Big 12 honors as well seven All-Big 12 Freshman accolades.
K-State will face top-seeded Texas Tech in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship at Oklahoma City’s Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.
