Four Wildcats Earn Fall Camp Awards at Preseason Banquet
Jan 12, 2018 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State baseball announced its fall camp award winners on Friday during its annual preseason banquet at the K-State Alumni Center Ballroom, with the group highlighted by sophomore Will Brennan earning the prestigious Mike Clark Award and sophomore Cameron Thompson taking the Fall MVP honor.
In addition to Brennan and Thompson, sophomore Kasey Ford and junior-college transfer Drew Mount were given the Ironman Award for pitcher and hitter, respectively. Mount also earned the team's Hustle Award, which goes to the player that never takes a day off in anything he does.
The Mike Clark Award, named after the longtime Wildcat skipper and current Senior Director of Development, is presented to the student-athlete that best represents the K-State program and embodies what it means to be a Wildcat, on and off the field.
The Ironman Award is bestowed to one pitcher and one position player who separated themselves by working the hardest in the weight room and gaining the most strength. The Fall MVP honor is handed out to the player who performed the best on the field in practice and scrimmages.
Brennan, who hit .350 to lead all Wildcats last season, was a Freshman All-America and All-Big 12 Second Team honoree after breaking K-State's freshman hitting record that stood since 1973. A native of Stilwell, Kansas, Brennan was also the team's on-base leader at .453 and was the toughest player in the Big 12 to strike out, going 15.3 at-bats per strikeout.
Thompson was also a Freshman All-America and All-Big 12 Second Team selection in 2017 after leading the Cats with 70 base hits, 41 runs scored and four triples. The Pasadena, Texas, product hit .308 with an on-base percentage of .409 during his freshman campaign while stealing 12 bases (second on team). Thompson started all 55 games for K-State last season, splitting time between center field and second base.
Ford, a 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher, appeared in 18 games for K-State in his freshman season and moved into the starting rotation over the final month of the season. In six starts, Ford went 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA and a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Bella Vista, Arkansas, native became the first Wildcat freshman to earn Big 12 Pitcher of the Week after tossing seven scoreless innings at Kansas in a 10-3 victory.
Mount, a junior outfielder, comes to K-State after two seasons at De Anza College. In 2017, he hit .333 to go with nine homers, 29 RBI and 11 stolen bases and was named a first-team Coast Golden Gate Conference selection. The Santa Clara, California, product also earned a ABCA/Rawlings Pacific Association Division Gold Glove for his defense in the outfield.
Head coach Brad Hill, entering his 15th season at K-State, will lead a group of 32 Wildcats in 2018. The roster features 18 returning letterwinners and 14 newcomers.
The Wildcats officially begin their season on Friday, February 16 against South Alabama in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at TicketReturn.com Field – home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs Class A affiliate). K-State will also square off with Indiana, Virginia Tech and 2016 national champion Coastal Carolina in the season's opening weekend.
K-State's home opener is set for Friday, March 2 at Tointon Family Stadium. The three-game set with La Salle to open its home campaign will kick off a stretch of 14 straight home games in the month of March for the Cats.
The Wildcats will play a total of 29 home games, including matchups with local rivals Nebraska, Creighton and Wichita State along with Big 12 foes Kansas, Oklahoma State and Texas.
2018 season tickets are now on sale and are available through the K-State Ticket Office by calling 1.800.221.CATS (2287), visiting the ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum or by going to k-statesports.com/tickets.
All-Time Mike Clark Award Winners
Will Brennan (2017-18)
Jake Wodtke (2016-17)
Tyler Wolfe (2015-16)
Shane Conlon (2014-15)
Blair DeBord (2013-14)
Blair DeBord (2012-13)
Matt Giller (2011-12)
In addition to Brennan and Thompson, sophomore Kasey Ford and junior-college transfer Drew Mount were given the Ironman Award for pitcher and hitter, respectively. Mount also earned the team's Hustle Award, which goes to the player that never takes a day off in anything he does.
The Mike Clark Award, named after the longtime Wildcat skipper and current Senior Director of Development, is presented to the student-athlete that best represents the K-State program and embodies what it means to be a Wildcat, on and off the field.
The Ironman Award is bestowed to one pitcher and one position player who separated themselves by working the hardest in the weight room and gaining the most strength. The Fall MVP honor is handed out to the player who performed the best on the field in practice and scrimmages.
Brennan, who hit .350 to lead all Wildcats last season, was a Freshman All-America and All-Big 12 Second Team honoree after breaking K-State's freshman hitting record that stood since 1973. A native of Stilwell, Kansas, Brennan was also the team's on-base leader at .453 and was the toughest player in the Big 12 to strike out, going 15.3 at-bats per strikeout.
Thompson was also a Freshman All-America and All-Big 12 Second Team selection in 2017 after leading the Cats with 70 base hits, 41 runs scored and four triples. The Pasadena, Texas, product hit .308 with an on-base percentage of .409 during his freshman campaign while stealing 12 bases (second on team). Thompson started all 55 games for K-State last season, splitting time between center field and second base.
Ford, a 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher, appeared in 18 games for K-State in his freshman season and moved into the starting rotation over the final month of the season. In six starts, Ford went 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA and a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Bella Vista, Arkansas, native became the first Wildcat freshman to earn Big 12 Pitcher of the Week after tossing seven scoreless innings at Kansas in a 10-3 victory.
Mount, a junior outfielder, comes to K-State after two seasons at De Anza College. In 2017, he hit .333 to go with nine homers, 29 RBI and 11 stolen bases and was named a first-team Coast Golden Gate Conference selection. The Santa Clara, California, product also earned a ABCA/Rawlings Pacific Association Division Gold Glove for his defense in the outfield.
Head coach Brad Hill, entering his 15th season at K-State, will lead a group of 32 Wildcats in 2018. The roster features 18 returning letterwinners and 14 newcomers.
The Wildcats officially begin their season on Friday, February 16 against South Alabama in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at TicketReturn.com Field – home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs Class A affiliate). K-State will also square off with Indiana, Virginia Tech and 2016 national champion Coastal Carolina in the season's opening weekend.
K-State's home opener is set for Friday, March 2 at Tointon Family Stadium. The three-game set with La Salle to open its home campaign will kick off a stretch of 14 straight home games in the month of March for the Cats.
The Wildcats will play a total of 29 home games, including matchups with local rivals Nebraska, Creighton and Wichita State along with Big 12 foes Kansas, Oklahoma State and Texas.
2018 season tickets are now on sale and are available through the K-State Ticket Office by calling 1.800.221.CATS (2287), visiting the ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum or by going to k-statesports.com/tickets.
All-Time Mike Clark Award Winners
Will Brennan (2017-18)
Jake Wodtke (2016-17)
Tyler Wolfe (2015-16)
Shane Conlon (2014-15)
Blair DeBord (2013-14)
Blair DeBord (2012-13)
Matt Giller (2011-12)
Players Mentioned
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