MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - George Mason junior closer Chris O'Grady
earned National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) honors, and was
joined by teammates seniors designated hitter Zack Helgeson and utility player
Brig Tison on the ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region Squad, as recently announced by
both organizations.
O'Grady was tabbed to the NCBWA All-America Third Team and
was named an ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-East Region player after a strong
campaign in which he tied a school single-season record with 14 saves. He went
2-0 with a 1.22 ERA, striking out 51 and limiting opposing hitters to a .163
batting average over 37 innings of work. O'Grady was a First Team All-CAA
selection, in addition to being named to the NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy and
Stopper of the Year Semifinalist lists. He was drafted by the Los Angeles
Angels of Anaheim in the 10th round, becoming the second-highest
drafted player in program history.
Helgeson joined O'Grady as a First Team All-East Region
honoree. A Third Team All-CAA honoree this season, Helgeson was one of just two
Patriots to start all 57 games and finished
the season leading the team in slugging percentage (.605), on-base percentage
(.438), RBI's (51),doubles (17), home runs (15), total bases (121) and walks
(38), while standing second in runs scored (38) and third in hits (59).
Helgeson
concluded his two-year career at Mason ranked 10th all-time with 30 home runs
and 15th with a .572 slugging percentage.
Tison collected All-East Region Second Team accolades after
being named a First Team All-CAA utility player earlier this year. Starting all
57 games, Tison paced the Patriots with a .370 batting average, 88 hits, 44
runs scored and 13 stolen bases. He also ranked second on the team with 16
doubles and 104 total bases and third with a .424 on-base percentage and 34 RBI's.
Tison finished his four years at Mason ranking among career leaders in batting
average (.369, 2nd), hits (254, 4th), sacrifice hits (24, 5th), stolen bases (36, 12th), at-bats (689, 15th),
doubles (42, 15th), plate appearances (776, 16th) and
runs scored (133, 21st).
Mason concluded its 2012 campaign with a 33-24 overall
record and 16-14 mark in the CAA
