Sullivan Named to Division I All-Independent Baseball Team
5/31/2006 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
GREELEY, Colo.--North Dakota State outfielder Jared Sullivan was named to the Division I all-independent baseball team announced Wednesday, May 31.
Sullivan, a senior from Redlands, Calif., was one of 17 first-team selections in a tight vote by sports information directors and head coaches from 13 independent colleges and universities.
Sullivan led NDSU in batting average (.351), doubles (21), homers (7), RBIs (41), total bases (103), slugging (.592), hit-by-pitches (30) and on-base percentage (.500). He was the Division I independent leader in doubles per game and on-base percentage.
He set school records for doubles and hit-by-pitches in a single season, and ranked ninth in total bases.
His 30 hit-by-pitches lead all players in Division I and would tie for fourth on the NCAA single-season chart if the Bison were not reclassifying from Division II.
Sullivan had a 10-game hitting streak and hit safely in 20 of 22 games between April and May to raise his batting average almost 80 points. He hit .500 in his last five games and was named to the all-independent tournament team.
Another 16 players were voted to the second team, and 15 earned honorable mention, including NDSU shortstop/pitcher Matt Mossey, who hit .320 with three homers and 28 RBIs, and was 1-6 with a 7.46 ERA on the mound.
Player of the Year honors went to Dallas Baptist senior outfielder Drew Holder, who hit .364 with 20 home runs and 75 RBIs. The Patriots were 33-23 overall under coach Eric Newman, who was voted Division I independent Coach of the Year.
New York Tech senior right-hander Chris Perez was named Pitcher of the Year with a 10-2 record, 3.21 ERA, and 90 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings.
Northern Colorado senior outfielder Seth Tartler was selected as Newcomer of the Year. Tartler hit .339 with five triples, stole seven bases and scored 43 runs in his first year with the Bears after transferring from Utah.
North Dakota State finished the season 12-41 overall, including a second-place finish at the Division I independent tournament.
The Bison have completed three years of a five-year NCAA reclassification from Division II to Division I and will be eligible for the NCAA playoffs in 2009.
