Missouri State University

May 21, 2012

ST. LOUIS - Headlined by Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year Nick Petree and four-time First-Team All-MVC second baseman Kevin Medrano, a total of nine Missouri State baseball players were selected for all-conference honors Monday by the league's head coaches. Petree, Medrano and MVC Freshman of the Year Tyler Burgess were all chosen for the Valley's first team, while four other Bears were tabbed for second-team honors and two more picked up honorable mention recognition.

A three-time MVC Pitcher of the Week honoree in 2012 and an NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist, Petree becomes the third Bear pitcher to earn top honors from the MVC in the last five seasons and the fifth MSU hurler overall to earn MVC Pitcher of the Year honors. The Clinton, Mo., product turned in the nation's longest scoreless innings streak this season, working a Missouri State-record 38.1 consecutive shutout frames from April 6-May 17, as well as 73.0 straight innings without giving up an earned run (March 2-May 17).

Petree, who brings the nation's top individual earned run average into this week's State Farm MVC Championship, leads the Missouri Valley Conference in victories (10) and ranks fourth on the Bears' single-season wins list. Additionally, the right-hander became just the seventh pitcher in school history to surpass the 100-strikeout plateau in a season in last Thursday's 6-3 setback at Indiana State. Medrano becomes the first Valley player on record to earn first-team All-MVC honors in each of his four collegiate seasons. The senior from Lee's Summit, Mo., leads the club with a .332 batting mark, while fielding a sparkling .991 as the Bears' regular second baseman. Last weekend at Indiana State, Medrano went 7-for-14 to lead the Bears to two victories over the MVC's regular-season champs, recording his 300th career hit in Saturday's series-clinching victory. He ranks second all-time at MSU in hits and holds the Bears' career records for singles and sacrifice hits, while ranking third in fielding assists and sixth in doubles.

Burgess, the Bears' second straight MVC Freshman of the Year honoree after Petree won the same award last season, is a perfect 5-0 on the year with a 1.24 ERA and a Missouri State freshman record 11 saves. The Webb City, Mo., product has turned in 19 scoreless outings in 22 games out of the Bears' bullpen and ranks second overall in the Valley in saves.

In addition to the Bears' three first-teamers, seniors Brock Chaffin, Brent Seifert and Spiker Helms, along with junior Luke Voit were chosen for the league's second team, while juniors Keenen Maddox and Cody Schumacher were named honorable mention All-MVC. Finally, both Petree and Medrano were among the honorees for the Valley's All-Defensive squad.

This week, the Bears (37-18, 13-7 MVC) host the 2012 State Farm MVC Championship as the No. 2 seed, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. game against the seventh-seeded Bradley Braves Tuesday (May 22) evening. All-session and single-game tickets for the tournament are on sale now at the Missouri State Athletics Box Office and may be obtained in person at the Chevy Pickup Window at JQH Arena, or by calling (417) 836-7678 or toll-free (888) 476-7849.