Zach Osborne and Chad Keefer played key roles in the success of Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns pitching staff during the 2010 season and their efforts were recognized Monday as both were named to the ABCA/Rawlings South Central All-Region team.

Osborne was a first team selection and Keefer picked up second team honors.

The battery mates were also All-Sun Belt Conference selections and both were drafted last week on day two of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Osborne’s first team selection makes him eligible for ABCA All-America honors. The selection committee meets later this week in Omaha in conjunction with the start of the NCAA College World Series.

Osborne and Keefer’s selection to the 2010 ABCA South Central All-Region team increases the number of all-region picks under Tony Robichaux to 30. Louisiana received at least one representative for the ninth consecutive season.

Osborne joins Hunter Moody (2006 & 2008), Austin Faught (2005), Justin Gabriel (2000), Phil Devey (1998 & 1999), Alan Ochsner (1999), Trey Poland (1997) and Cody Robbins (1997) as UL pitching standouts named First Team All-South Central Region.

Keefer is just the second catcher in the Robichaux Era to receive all-region honors. He joins current Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (2007) on the list.

Osborne, a 2010 All-Sun Belt First Team selection and Louisiana’s Friday night starter, posted a 9-4 record on the mound and finished with a 2.37 ERA and 112 strikeouts over 121 2/3 innings pitched. He crafted 14 quality starts (of 16 total) and tossed five complete games (two shutouts).

He went the entire season with an ERA below 3.00 – highest mark was 2.65 – and held opponents to a .222 batting average. The Houston native ranks Top 25 nationally in ERA and strikeouts and Top 50 nationally in victories, hits allowed and walks allowed per nine innings.

Keefer caught all 60 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns and worked with the squad’s pitching staff to produce one of the Top 10 units in the nation.

The Sasakwa, Okla., native was a second team All-Sun Belt selection and led the league with 20 runners caught stealing. Keefer sported a team-best 10 home runs and 35 RBI in Cajuns’ strong second half run.

Keefer finished the season with 28 extra base hits (13 doubles, 15 home runs). In SBC play, he hit .366 and led the league in runs scored (33), home runs (14), total bases (93), slugging percentage (.756) and was second in RBI (35).

ABCA South Central All-Region selections under Tony Robichaux
2010: Zach Osborne, P (1st); Chad Keefer, C (2nd)
2009: Justin Robichaux, RP (2nd)
2008: Hunter Moody, P (1st)
2007: Jonathan Lucroy, C (1st); Scott Hawkins, DH/UT (1st); Danny Farquhar, RP (2nd)
2006: Hunter Moody, P (1st)
2005: Austin Faught, P (1st); Dallas Morris, 3B (1st); John Coker, OF (1st); Kevin Ardoin, P (2nd); Phillip Hawke, 1B (1st)
2004: Dallas Morris, 3B (1st); Rhett Buras, DH (1st); Kevin Ardoin, P (2nd)
2003: Corey Coles, OF (1st)
2002: Corey Coles, OF (1st); Andy Gros, P (2nd)
2000: Justin Gabriel, P (1st); Scott Dohmann, P (2nd)
1999: Phil Devey, P (1st); Alan Ochsner, RP (1st)
1998: Phil Devey, P (1st); Justin Hemme, DH (1st); Logan Cuellar, P (2nd); B.J. Ryan, 1B (2nd)
1997: Trey Poland, P (1st); Cody Robbins, P (1st); Kevin Cantrelle, OF (2nd)

— Ragin’ Cajuns —