Crimson Tide Baseball Players Honored
5/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Salem Named to SEC Baseball Good Works Team
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- University of Alabama junior centerfielder Emeel Salem was named to the 2006 SEC Baseball Good Works Team, which honors athletes who give back to their community with superior service efforts.
The Mountain Brook native has developed his own model of success that speaks of dedication, hard work, and belief in yourself that he shares with young people. Salem spent time as a volunteer at DCH Regional Medical Center in the pediatric ward, spoke to students at Brookwood Elementary School on drug awareness, and spoke at Tuscaloosa Middle School as well as Holt Elementary School's end-of-year awards banquet. In October of 2005, Salem passed out candy and judged costume contests at the Athletic Department's annual Halloween Carnival. He also read books to children at Oakdale Elementary School and Oak Hill School during American Education Week. Salem's efforts have helped the Alabama baseball team win the athletic department's community service award each of the past two years (2005, 2006).
Other members of this year's SEC Baseball Good Works Team include Clint Arnold (Arkansas), Bruce Edwards (Auburn), Darren O'Day (Florida), Adam McDaniel (Georgia), Billy Grace (Kentucky), Clay Dirks (LSU), Tommy Baumgardner (Ole Miss), Justin Pigott (Mississippi State), Ian Paxton (South Carolina), J.P. Arencibia (Tennessee) and Matt Buschmann (Vanderbilt).
Downs Named SEC Player of the Week
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- University of Alabama senior third baseman Matt Downs was named the SEC Player of the Week after his role in the Crimson Tide's sweep of the Tennessee Vols that gave the Crimson Tide a share of the 2006 SEC Championship.
Downs had multiple hits in all three games, including going 4-for-5 in the first two games of the series. On Thursday night, he went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, one double, one triple, and one RBI in Bama's 11-3 victory. Friday night he went 4-for-5 with 3 RBI including the game-tying single in the 7th inning. Saturday night, Downs went 2-for-4 and hit a 2-run homer in the top of the eighth inning which gave the Tide a 5-0 lead en route to its league leading 14th SEC Championship.
"We were able to win this year because of guys like Matt Downs," Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. "He is a competitor and a team leader. He has had a great year for us and has been one of the main reasons for our success."
Downs is the Crimson Tide's third-leading hitter with a .317 average in 55 games. He has six home runs and a team-best 54 RBI. He was UA's triple crown winner in SEC play, with a .372 average, five home runs and 30 RBI.
Three Tide Players Named to SEBaseball.com's All-SEC Teams
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- A trio of University of Alabama baseball players, including SEC Pitcher of the Year Wade LeBlanc, were named to the 2006 All-SEC team on Monday by SEBaseball.com editor Mark Etheridge.
Starting left-hander Wade LeBlanc was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year. LeBlanc posted a 9-0 record with a 2.89 ERA and 107 strikeouts. He set the Alabama school record with 313 career strikeouts, passing Brent Carter (307 K's) to become Alabama's all-time strikeout leader.
Center fielder Emeel Salem was named to SEBaseball.com's All-SEC first team. Salem was Bama's leading hitter this season with a .365 batting average. He hit 12 doubles, a team leading six triples, 26 RBI and two home runs. Salem also led the team in stolen bases with 32 and posted a .992 fielding percentage.
Senior catcher Kody Valverde was named to SEBaseball.com's All-SEC second team. Valverde hit .332 this season and led the team in doubles (15), homeruns (10), slugging percentage (.599), and on-base percentage (.457). He was also second on the team with 49 RBI.
