Two Huskers Baseball Players Named Preseason All-Americans

Lincoln ? A pair of Nebraska baseball players were honored Tuesday, as they were selected to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-America Team. Junior left-hander Tony Watson (Grimes, Iowa) was a first-team selection on the mound, while junior shortstop Ryan Wehrle (Papillion, Neb.) was tabbed as a third-team selection.

Watson returns to anchor the Husker rotation after earning All-America honors last spring. The left-hander compiled an impressive 10-2 mark with a 2.78 ERA in 17 appearances. Watson ranked among the Big 12 leaders in ERA (third), wins (fourth), opponent batting average (.236, fifth) and innings pitched (100.1) in his first full season as a starter. He was also selected in the 17th round by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2006 MLB Draft, but elected to return to Nebraska for his junior season.

Wehrle was chosen as a third-team selection as a utility player. Last season, he became the first Husker shortstop in 21 seasons to earn first-team all-conference honors, hitting a team-best .367 with eight homers and 49 RBIs. Wehrle led NU in average and ranked second on the squad in RBIs, while also going a perfect 14-for-14 on the basepaths. A two-year starter, Wehrle also enjoyed a strong performance in the field, posting a .949 fielding percentage while starting 57 contests. An 18th round selection by the Cincinnati Reds in last summer’s MLB Draft, Wehrle also elected to return to Nebraska for the upcoming season.

The Huskers begin the 2007 campaign on Friday, Feb. 16, when they take on New Mexico. Nebraska returns 22 letterwinners, including six everyday starters and three of its top four starting pitchers, from a team that finished 42-17 and reached the NCAA Regionals for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.