Taylor, Fox Headline Omaha's League Hardware Haul
May 25, 2016 | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Four Omaha baseball players were named to the 2016 All-Summit Baseball Team, the Summit League office announced Tuesday evening. The first team included senior infielder Clayton Taylor, senior right-handed pitcher Tyler Fox, senior outfielder Cole Gruber and sophomore utility player Ryan Cate.
Taylor was honored as Summit League Player of the Year, while Fox was named Summit League Pitcher of the Year, to highlight Omaha's all-conference hardware haul.
The Mavericks had three repeat all-conference picks in Taylor, Fox and Gruber. Taylor, now a four-time All-Summit selection, earned second-team recognition in 2013 and first-team honors in 2014 and 2015, while Fox was a first-team pick in 2014. Gruber previously garnered second-team accolades in 2014 and was named to the first team in 2015.
Taylor, who has started all 54 games this season, has batted .333 with 12 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs, 41 runs scored, 66 RBI, 33 walks and 10 stolen bases. The Mount Michael graduate leads the league for RBI and also ranks fifth nationally in the category, as well sixth for RBI per game (1.22) and 33rd for sacrifice flies (six). He owns 20 multi-hit games and a team-best 16 multi-RBI games, and he was named Summit League Player of the Week on Feb. 22 and March 14. In addition, Taylor third in league history for career RBI (174) and sacrifice flies (14).
Fox, a native of Thornton, Colo., owns a 10-2 mound record with a 3.17 ERA over 93.2 innings pitched. A three-time Summit League Pitcher of the Week selection on Feb. 29, April 25 and May 9, he leads the league in wins, innings pitched, games started, complete games and shutouts. He is also second among conference hurlers for ERA and strikeouts (69) and ranks 10th nationally for wins. Additionally, Fox is third all-time in Summit League history with 30 career victories.
Gruber, from Papillion-LaVista, has started all 54 games and is batting .376 with 13 doubles, two triples, a home run, 55 runs scored, 30 RBI, 31 walks and 43 stolen bases. He ranks second nationally for stolen bases, third for stolen bases per game (0.80) and 38th for hits (80) and paces the league in hits, runs and swiped bags. Gruber owns a team-high 25 multi-hit performances and five multi-RBI games, and he was honored as Summit League Player of the Week on March 28. In addition, Gruber holds the all-time league record for sacrifice bunts (34) and is second for career stolen bases (105).
Cate, an Omaha Burke product, earns his first All-Summit honor. Splitting time at designated hitter, first base and relief pitcher, he has batted .326 with seven doubles, a triple, five home runs, 20 runs scored, 30 RBI and 14 walks. On the mound, Cate has made 14 appearances in relief, tallying a team-leading five saves. For the year, he carries 15 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI performances.
Since joining the conference in 2012-13, Omaha has had two league players of the year and two league pitchers of the Year. Former Maverick Ryan Keele won the player-of-the-year award in 2013, while Fox was recognized with pitcher-of-the-week plaudits in 2014.
Omaha finished the 2016 regular season with a record of 28-26 (18-12 Summit League). The Mavericks make their first appearance at the Summit League Baseball Championship this week as the tournament's No. 2 seed, facing third-seeded Fort Wayne on Wednesday, May 25. First pitch is set for Noon at J.L. Johnson Stadium in Tulsa, Okla.
2016 ALL-SUMMIT BASEBALL TEAMS
First Team
Brent Williams, Oral Roberts, 1B, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.
Drew Fearing, North Dakota State, 2B, So., Osakis, Minn.
Clayton Taylor, Omaha, 3B, Sr., Omaha, Neb.
Greg Kaiser, Fort Wayne, SS, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind.
Noah Cummings, Oral Roberts, OF, So., Alpine, Calif.
Cole Gruber, Omaha, OF, Sr., Papillion, Neb.
Brandon Soat, Fort Wayne, OF, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind.
Matt Whatley, Oral Roberts, C, So., Claremore, Okla.
Jesse Munsterman, South Dakota State, DH, Sr., St. Peter, Minn.
Ryan Cate, Omaha, UTL, So., Omaha, Neb.
Tyler Fox, Omaha, SP, Sr., Thornton, Colo.
Trevor Storie, Fort Wayne, SP, Sr., Huntington, Ind.
Nick Wood, Oral Roberts, SP, Sr., Los Alamitos, Calif.
Brady Womacks, Oral Roberts, RP, Jr., Pevely, Mo.
Second Team
Matt Johnson, South Dakota State, 1B, Jr., Ankeny, Iowa
Jackson Boyce, Fort Wayne, 2B, Jr., Leo, Ind.
Chase Stafford, Oral Roberts, 3B, Sr., Petaluma, Calif.
Trevin Sonnier, Oral Roberts, SS, Sr., Nederland, Texas
Paul Jacobson, South Dakota State, OF, Sr., Dakota Dunes, S.D.
Nick Rotola, Oral Roberts, OF, Jr., Wichita, Kan.
Shane Trevino, Fort Wayne, OF, Sr., Hudsonville, Mich.
Luke Ringhofer, South Dakota State, C, So., Cottage Grove, Minn.
Taylor Sanders, North Dakota State, DH, Sr., Lake Oswego, Ore.
Rolando Martinez, Oral Roberts, UTL, Sr., Bakersfield, Calif.
Bryce Howe, Oral Roberts, SP, So., Claremore, Okla.
Ian Koch, Western Illinois, SP, Fr., Crystal Lake, Ill.
Cale Tims, Oral Roberts, SP, So., Jenks, Okla.
Landon Busch, South Dakota State, RP, Jr., Brookings, S.D.
Player of the Year
Clayton Taylor, Omaha
Pitcher of the Year
Tyler Fox, Omaha
Newcomer of the Year
Brent Williams, Oral Roberts
Coach of the Year
Ryan Folmar, Oral Roberts
Taylor was honored as Summit League Player of the Year, while Fox was named Summit League Pitcher of the Year, to highlight Omaha's all-conference hardware haul.
The Mavericks had three repeat all-conference picks in Taylor, Fox and Gruber. Taylor, now a four-time All-Summit selection, earned second-team recognition in 2013 and first-team honors in 2014 and 2015, while Fox was a first-team pick in 2014. Gruber previously garnered second-team accolades in 2014 and was named to the first team in 2015.
Taylor, who has started all 54 games this season, has batted .333 with 12 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs, 41 runs scored, 66 RBI, 33 walks and 10 stolen bases. The Mount Michael graduate leads the league for RBI and also ranks fifth nationally in the category, as well sixth for RBI per game (1.22) and 33rd for sacrifice flies (six). He owns 20 multi-hit games and a team-best 16 multi-RBI games, and he was named Summit League Player of the Week on Feb. 22 and March 14. In addition, Taylor third in league history for career RBI (174) and sacrifice flies (14).
Fox, a native of Thornton, Colo., owns a 10-2 mound record with a 3.17 ERA over 93.2 innings pitched. A three-time Summit League Pitcher of the Week selection on Feb. 29, April 25 and May 9, he leads the league in wins, innings pitched, games started, complete games and shutouts. He is also second among conference hurlers for ERA and strikeouts (69) and ranks 10th nationally for wins. Additionally, Fox is third all-time in Summit League history with 30 career victories.
Gruber, from Papillion-LaVista, has started all 54 games and is batting .376 with 13 doubles, two triples, a home run, 55 runs scored, 30 RBI, 31 walks and 43 stolen bases. He ranks second nationally for stolen bases, third for stolen bases per game (0.80) and 38th for hits (80) and paces the league in hits, runs and swiped bags. Gruber owns a team-high 25 multi-hit performances and five multi-RBI games, and he was honored as Summit League Player of the Week on March 28. In addition, Gruber holds the all-time league record for sacrifice bunts (34) and is second for career stolen bases (105).
Cate, an Omaha Burke product, earns his first All-Summit honor. Splitting time at designated hitter, first base and relief pitcher, he has batted .326 with seven doubles, a triple, five home runs, 20 runs scored, 30 RBI and 14 walks. On the mound, Cate has made 14 appearances in relief, tallying a team-leading five saves. For the year, he carries 15 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI performances.
Since joining the conference in 2012-13, Omaha has had two league players of the year and two league pitchers of the Year. Former Maverick Ryan Keele won the player-of-the-year award in 2013, while Fox was recognized with pitcher-of-the-week plaudits in 2014.
Omaha finished the 2016 regular season with a record of 28-26 (18-12 Summit League). The Mavericks make their first appearance at the Summit League Baseball Championship this week as the tournament's No. 2 seed, facing third-seeded Fort Wayne on Wednesday, May 25. First pitch is set for Noon at J.L. Johnson Stadium in Tulsa, Okla.
2016 ALL-SUMMIT BASEBALL TEAMS
First Team
Brent Williams, Oral Roberts, 1B, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.
Drew Fearing, North Dakota State, 2B, So., Osakis, Minn.
Clayton Taylor, Omaha, 3B, Sr., Omaha, Neb.
Greg Kaiser, Fort Wayne, SS, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind.
Noah Cummings, Oral Roberts, OF, So., Alpine, Calif.
Cole Gruber, Omaha, OF, Sr., Papillion, Neb.
Brandon Soat, Fort Wayne, OF, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind.
Matt Whatley, Oral Roberts, C, So., Claremore, Okla.
Jesse Munsterman, South Dakota State, DH, Sr., St. Peter, Minn.
Ryan Cate, Omaha, UTL, So., Omaha, Neb.
Tyler Fox, Omaha, SP, Sr., Thornton, Colo.
Trevor Storie, Fort Wayne, SP, Sr., Huntington, Ind.
Nick Wood, Oral Roberts, SP, Sr., Los Alamitos, Calif.
Brady Womacks, Oral Roberts, RP, Jr., Pevely, Mo.
Second Team
Matt Johnson, South Dakota State, 1B, Jr., Ankeny, Iowa
Jackson Boyce, Fort Wayne, 2B, Jr., Leo, Ind.
Chase Stafford, Oral Roberts, 3B, Sr., Petaluma, Calif.
Trevin Sonnier, Oral Roberts, SS, Sr., Nederland, Texas
Paul Jacobson, South Dakota State, OF, Sr., Dakota Dunes, S.D.
Nick Rotola, Oral Roberts, OF, Jr., Wichita, Kan.
Shane Trevino, Fort Wayne, OF, Sr., Hudsonville, Mich.
Luke Ringhofer, South Dakota State, C, So., Cottage Grove, Minn.
Taylor Sanders, North Dakota State, DH, Sr., Lake Oswego, Ore.
Rolando Martinez, Oral Roberts, UTL, Sr., Bakersfield, Calif.
Bryce Howe, Oral Roberts, SP, So., Claremore, Okla.
Ian Koch, Western Illinois, SP, Fr., Crystal Lake, Ill.
Cale Tims, Oral Roberts, SP, So., Jenks, Okla.
Landon Busch, South Dakota State, RP, Jr., Brookings, S.D.
Player of the Year
Clayton Taylor, Omaha
Pitcher of the Year
Tyler Fox, Omaha
Newcomer of the Year
Brent Williams, Oral Roberts
Coach of the Year
Ryan Folmar, Oral Roberts
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
