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Baseball 6/29/2010 5:00:00 PM VMIKeydets.com

Three Keydets Earn VaSID Baseball Honors

BLACKSBURG, Va. – VMI's Cory Spangenberg was named Rookie of the Year and All-State First Team, while Sam Roberts and former Keydet Jordan Ballard were tabbed to the All-State Second Team, as the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) announced their 2010 awards Tuesday afternoon. The three honorees equal the total number VMI has had make the VaSID squads since 2000.

Spangenberg, who has earned three Freshman All-American honors in recent weeks, enjoyed a 2010 that saw him set new school records for hits, runs and total bases, and be named Big South Freshman of the Year at the campaign's conclusion. He was just the third Keydet to be named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, joining Kelly Sweppenhiser (2003) and Travis Smink (2006). This season, Spangenberg ranked among the top 10 in the Big South in seven different offensive categories including hits, runs, home runs, stolen bases and batting average.

Ballard was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 33rd round of this month's MLB Draft, and is currently playing with the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League. His 2010 saw him post a school-record 18 home runs while driving in a team-high 58 runs, and earn All-Conference First Team honors. He graduated last month as the school's career leader with 41 home runs while ranking second in slugging percentage (.569) and third in both total bases and fielding percentage in his career at VMI. Thus far in his professional career (through games of June 28), Ballard is hitting .385 in four games played.

Roberts shared the Second Team honor with Virginia's Tyler Cannon, who was drafted by Cleveland in the MLB Draft. The VMI shortstop hit .336 with nine home runs, and was a quarterfinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, given to the nation's top shortstop. He was also a nominee for the John Olerud Two-Way Player Award, given to the top player who both pitches and plays another position. Roberts has started 149 straight games at five different positions, and this past year, became only the second Keydet to both score and drive in 50 runs in a single season.

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Players Mentioned

#35 Travis Smink: LHP; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior; L/L

#26 Jordan Ballard: 1B; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#4 Sam Roberts: IF/OF/P; 6' 1"; Junior; L/R

#1 Cory Spangenberg: MI; 6' 0"; Freshman; L/R

Players Mentioned

#35 Travis Smink
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior; L/L
: LHP

#26 Jordan Ballard
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: 1B

#4 Sam Roberts
: 6' 1"; Junior; L/R
: IF/OF/P

#1 Cory Spangenberg
: 6' 0"; Freshman; L/R
: MI