Purdue baseball garners awards for strong effort

By Keith Thomas
Editor in Chief

In its most successful season in decades, the Purdue baseball team this year gave new meaning to the phrase, strength up the middle.

Only days after being eliminated from action in the 2001 Big Ten Conference Tournament, the Boilers were recognized for their strong individual efforts this season.

Purdue (32-23) garnered six all-Big Ten selections this season, two selections short of the school record set in 1997 when eight Boilermakers were named all-conference. Only Ohio State, this year's Big Ten regular season champions, and Minnesota received more recognition than the Boilermakers in the conference this season, boasting eight all-conference selections apiece.

Purdue's four First-Team selections was one shy of Ohio State's five.

In glancing at the all-conference selections, it's clear that the Boilermakers dominated the middle of the field with selectees second baseman Dave Blomberg, shortstop Mike Duursma, center fielder Nate Sickler, pitchers Dave Gassner and Ben Quick and catcher David Harrell all being named among the best in the conference this season.

Boilermaker assistant coach Todd Murphy said he isn't really that surprised based on what he witnessed this group accomplish this season.

"It's probably one of the best middles I've been around," said Murphy. "They were definitely the best at their positions this year."

Additionally nice for the Boilermakers, who finished second in the Big Ten regular season standings posting their best season since 1928, is the fact that the four first-teamers are all seniors.

"For Blomberg, Sickler and Gassner, It was their fourth year playing in the league," said Murphy, who joined the staff with head coach Doug Schreiber when this group comprised a promising freshman class. "They stuck it out and they've been rewarded … deservingly.

"For Duursma, he deserved it as he was as good a shortstop as any in the league this season."

This group of Boilermakers agree that individual awards are nice, but being awarded all-conference honors this season is somewhat bittersweet.

"It’s a good way to go out I guess, but I'd trade it for a regional appearance," said Blomberg, who hit a career-best .361 in starting all 54 regular season games this year.

His sentiment is echoed by all the Boiler all-conference selections, as they are disappointed with their 10-2 loss to Michigan in the second round of the conference tournament last week, ousting them from conference contention.

Now, the Boilermakers must sit and wait to see if, unlike last year, they will receive an invitation to participate in one of this year's NCAA Regional Tournaments.

"I really hope we get a chance at the regionals because they deserve it," said Murphy. "You hate to see them go; it's like your own kids leaving. Hopefully we don't have to say goodbye for another week at least."

According to Duursma, getting selected to play in this year's regionals will allow the Boilermakers one more opportunity to showcase what they consider to be a good baseball team all around; not just up the middle.

"I think everybody on our team could have won a first-, second- or third-team award," said Duursma, who batted a team-high .412 over the final 21 games of the season.

Gassner, who was one of the candidates for Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, said they can only wait since they didn't take care of their business at the conference tournament in Columbus, Ohio.

"I don't know if we played well enough to deserve (a bid)," said the left hander, whose 2.49 ERA and 54 strikeouts were tops in the conference this season. "But I think we were definitely better than our record indicated."

Sickler finishes his Boilermaker career with 32 career homeruns, which is third all-time in school history. He ranks in and near the top of many Purdue offensive categories, including fourth all-time on the school RBIs list.

Right-handed senior starter Ben Quick paced the Purdue pitching staff with seven wins the 79 strikeouts he posted was the third best in school history.

Harrell, a third-team selection and the lone underclassmen among the group, was a newcomer to the Boilers this year and his impact was immediately felt. Purdue was 25-8 with Harrell, a junior, batting in the cleanup spot.

• The Boilers will find out if their season continues this afternoon around 2 p.m., according to Murphy.

Purdue baseball garners awards for strong effort

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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