OMAHA, NE – Sophomore Titan closer has been named as one of five finalists for the 2017 Gregg Olson Award presented by Toolshed Sports. It was announced on Tuesday. The award honors 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.
In 15 appearances as a freshman last season Conine posted a 3-3 record with a 5.10 ERA. He allowed 34 hits in 30 innings with 24 strikeouts in a mixed role which included spot starts, middle relief and mop-up duty.
The Orange, California native has appeared in 30 games for the College World Series bound Titans as their closer. In 42.1 innings he limited batters to 34 hits and six walks while striking out 37. He has dutifully compiled a 1.49 ERA and 15 saves.
His 15 saves lead the Big West and are ranked sixth in the nation. Conine is currently sixth on Fullerton's all-time single-season saves list. He's one save away from equaling Michael Lorenzen and Tyler Peitzmeier for third on the list (16).
The winner of the 2017 Gregg Olson Award will be named in Omaha, Nebraska during the College World Series which will be held once again this season at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.
ABOUT GREGG OLSON
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 lead 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.
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