Baseball: Traffica, Frederick named to SBC team

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • July 18, 2010

Within a matter of a few weeks this past baseball season, Tyler Frederick went from a back-up to UL’s starting third baseman as a redshirt freshman for the Sun Belt Conference co-champions.

Right-hander Chase Traffica also contributed as a freshman for the Ragin’ Cajuns after emerging as one of the team’s top young pitchers.

Frederick and Traffica were both named to the unofficial Sun Belt Conference All-Freshman team based on nominations and approval by the league newspaper beat reporters.

The Sun Belt currently votes for superlative honors and an all-conference team, but there is no official All-Freshman team because the league office has a moratorium on creating new awards.

"It’s a great honor to be in that group because there were a lot of good freshmen in the Sun Belt," said Frederick, an Acadiana High School graduate. "It means a lot, and I think both of us deserved it."

After seeing limited action during the first three weeks of the season, Frederick won the starting job at third base for the Cajuns. He hit .294 with 30 runs scored, 52 hits, four home runs and 26 RBIs in 50 games.

Frederick is playing in the wood bat Coastal Plain League this summer for the Thomasville HiToms and is the league’s 12th-leading hitter with a .320 batting average.

"After he entered the lineup, he really solidified us defensively and had a strong year," UL coach Tony Robichaux said. "We believe he will continue to improve and will get stronger and turn himself from a singles-doubles hitter into someone who will hit for power later in his career."

Traffica posted a 3-3 record this season with a 3.76 ERA in 10 appearances, including four starts. The Birmingham, Ala., native had 23 strikeouts in 26.1 innings.

This summer, Traffica has yet to factor in a decision in four relief appearances for the East Texas PumpJacks in the Texas Collegiate League.

"Chase did a good job as a freshman pitcher," Robichaux said. "He was effective when he kept the ball down earlier in the year. He knows what he needs to work on for next year, and playing this summer will help him."

Sun Belt All-Freshman Baseball team

SP
Chase Traffica, UL: 3-3 with 3.76 ERA in 10 appearances (four starts), 23 strikeouts in 26.1 innings.
Tanner Perkins, Western Kentucky: 3-4, 5.27 ERA, 43 strikeouts in 56.1 innings.
RP
John Koch, Arkansas State: 1-4, 4.35 ERA, four saves.
Daniel Wright, Arkansas State: 3-3, 4.10 ERA, 30 strikeouts in 41-2 innings.
1B
Rudy Flores, FIU: .357, 40 hits, 27 runs scored, five home runs, 23 RBIs and third team PING! Freshman All-American.
2B
Johnny Thomas, UNO: .269, 35 hits, eight doubles, two homers, 15 RBIs.
SS
Judd Edwards, ULM: .333, 11 doubles, 70 hits, 33 runs scored, two homers, 20 RBIs.
3B
Tyler Frederick, UL: .294, 30 runs scored, 52 hits, four homers, 26 RBIs.
OF
Jabari Henry, FIU: .315, 52 hits, 47 runs scored, 10 doubles, 12 homers, 51 RBIs, Freshman All-American by NCBWA, Louisville Slugger and PING!
Michael Faulkner, Arkansas State: .336, 55 runs scored, 81 hits, 12 doubles, 25 RBIs, 23 stolen bases.
Ryan Emery, Arkansas State: .313, 25 runs scored, two homers, 34 RBIs.
DH
Chase Vergason, FAU: .293 with .417 on-base percentage.
UTL
T.J. Shantz, FIU: .311, 28 hits, 18 runs scored, four homers, 14 RBIs.
Honorable mention
FAU SP R.J. Alvarez
WKU RP Taylor Haydel
Middle Tennessee RP Daniel Palo
FAU RP Kevin Alexander
FIU RP Alberto Cardenas
Troy RP Thomas Austin
Middle Tennessee INF Ryan Ford
FAU 3B Chase Vergason
FAU OF Nathan Pittman