Eleven Cowboys Named All-Big 12

Oklahoma State had 11 players named to the 2013 All-Big 12 Conference Team, it was announced by the league office today.

Highlighting the group of Cowboys are pitcher Vince Wheeland and outfielder Zach Fish, who were both All-Big 12 First Team selections. The two first-team honorees are the most for OSU since it had three in 2008.

OSU had four players named to the All-Big 12 Second Team – infielder Tanner Krietemeier, catcher Victor Romero, utility player Randy McCurry and pitcher Jason Hursh – while pitchers Tyler Nurdin and Mark Robinette, outfielder Saulyer Saxon, utility player Brendan McCurry and infielder Donnie Walton earned honorable mention honors. Walton was also named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

Ten of the 11 Cowboys to earn All-Big 12 accolades did so for the first time in their careers, while Randy McCurry was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection as a utility player for the second consecutive year.

Wheeland, a junior from Turlock, Calif., is tied for the Big 12 lead with eight wins. In a team-high 26 appearances, the right-hander is 8-1 and ranks sixth in the conference with a 1.79 ERA. He also ranks in the top 10 in the league in strikeouts (60) and opponent batting average (.224).

Fish had a breakout sophomore season in 2013 as he ranks in the top 10 in the Big 12 in home runs (7), doubles (16) RBIs (41) and total bases (99). In 52 games, he is hitting .287 and with a .474 slugging percentage and has recorded 17 multi-hit games and a team-high 11 multi-RBI efforts. Fish is also tied for third among the Cowboys with 10 stolen bases.

Romero became the Cowboys' everyday catcher this season and has been productive at the plate while also handling one of the Big 12's top pitching staffs. A semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award given to college's top catcher, the senior is hitting .293 with four homers and 26 RBIs and ranks among the league leaders with a .425 slugging percentage.

Krietemeier has been OSU's most consistent hitter in his first season in a Cowboy uniform. The switch-hitting first baseman leads the club with a .329 batting average and ranks in the top 10 in the Big 12 in five other categories, including hits (68), runs (38), doubles (13), RBIs (41) and total bases (97). He has 19 multi-hit games and has hit safely in 44 of OSU's 53 games.

McCurry has taken over OSU's shortstop position and been one of the squad's most consistent performers. He's hitting .321 with a pair of homers and 35 RBIs, and he leads the Big 12 with 20 doubles. The senior has also been impressive on the mound, where he's 2-1 with a save and a 2.16 ERA in eight outings.

Hursh has come back strong for his redshirt sophomore campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery following the 2011 season. Named to the midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, the right-hander is 6-4 with a 2.78 ERA and three complete games in 14 starts and ranks third in the Big 12 with 79 strikeouts.

In his first collegiate season, Walton has started 47 games, most of those at second base, and is hitting .282 with 23 RBIs. He leads the Cowboys with 16 sacrifice bunts, which is tied for OSU's single-season record, and has committed just five errors on the infield.

OSU has had 138 All-Big 12 selections in its history, including 29 first-team honorees.