Flick named semifinalist for 2017 Gregg Olson Award
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The honors and awards are just beginning to pile up for members of the Tennessee Tech baseball team following its incredible season, and junior designated hitter Ryan Flick ranks at the top of the list of those receiving accolades.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The honors and awards are just beginning to pile up for members of the Tennessee Tech baseball team following its incredible season, and junior designated hitter Ryan Flick ranks at the top of the list of those receiving accolades.
The Bluff City, Tenn. native was named a semifinalist for the 2017 Gregg Olson Award presented by Toolshed Sports Monday morning, an honor that recognizes college baseball's breakout player of the year. The annual award is given to a top amateur baseball player who elevates his game to an elite level throughout the season.
After a freshman season at Auburn filled with only mixed success, Gregg Olson became one of the top collegiate players in the nation during an outstanding, unprecedented sophomore season. Despite being omitted from any preseason All American lists, Olson went on to lead the entire nation in ERA with a 1.26 mark and compiled an incredible 11-1 record with 10 saves for the Tigers.
Following a summer pitching for the USA National Team where he led the club in strikeouts, Olson returned to Auburn for another spectacular season. He led the SEC with a 2.00 ERA and amassed a triple-digit strikeout total, issuing 113 K's in only 72 innings with only 27 walks. He finished his collegiate career with back-to-back First Team All American honors, a 25-7 record, 3.03 ERA, 20 saves, 271 strikeouts and redefined the way college coaches used their top pitcher.
The Olson Award has been developed to honor college baseball's success stories and showcase players like Olson who have raised the level of their game through hard work, strength of mind and determination. Eligible players will be those who are omitted from major publication's preseason All American prognostications; however by the end of the season their on the field performance will demonstrate that they are among the top amateur baseball players in the nation.
The Ohio Valley Conference's 2015 Rookie of the Year, Flick fought through a foot injury during the 2016 campaign, finishing with a .256 average, 29 runs, eight doubles, eight home runs and 39 RBI. He bounced back in the biggest way possible in 2017, batting .377 with 61 runs scored, 24 doubles, 19 home runs and 74 RBI.
Named to the All-OVC Second Team, Flick took home OVC Tournament MVP honors after clubbing five home runs and 16 RBI in three games. He also took home All-American Second Team honors from Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Finalists will be announced during Super Regional action. The winner of the 2017 Gregg Olson Award will be named in Omaha, Nebraska during the College World Series which is to be held this season at TD Ameritrade Park.
For more information visit: olsonaward.com
2017 Gregg Olson Award Semifinalists
▪ Cory Abbott, LMU
▪ Johnny Aiello, Wake Forest
▪ Tanner Allison, Western Michigan
▪ Scott Boches, Marist
▪ Ben Breazeale, Wake Forest
▪ Rob Calabrese, UIC
▪ Brett Conine, Cal State Fullerton
▪ Nick Egli, Belmont
▪ Sam Finfer, Marshall
▪ Ryan Flick, Tennessee Tech
▪ Nick Gallagher, Binghamton
▪ Lincoln Henzman, Louisville
▪ Nick Kennedy, Texas
▪ Ron Marinaccio, Delaware
▪ Garrett McCain, Oklahoma State
▪ Jared Oliva, Arizona
▪ Matt Peacock, South Alabama
▪ Andrew Perez, South Florida
▪ Tristan Pompey, Kentucky
▪ Will Robertson, Davidson
▪ Taylor Schwaner, Southeast Louisiana
▪ Shane Selman, McNeese State
▪ Jake Thomopson, Oregon State
▪ Brock Weimer, SIUE
▪ Kyle Zurak, Radford
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
