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Living Out Dreams

Black Ink of Four Owls Found MLB Contracts

By Kennesaw State Athletics

June 27^th, 2017

Three days of anticipation....

June 12-14.

Those were the dates of the 2017 MLB Draft as some Kennesaw State baseball members watched closely to see if their names would be called.

Head Coach Mike Sansing produced nine straight seasons of at least one draftee, entering the draft with 48 selections and 14 free agent signings on his resume.

Headed to the empire state...

Tony Dibrell became the first Owl off the draft board in the fourth round (127th overall), taken by the New York Mets.

The RHP was the first Black and Gold member to be selected in the fourth round in program history.

"We're extremely happy for Tony as he's been committed to the Owls and to his personal growth over the past few years," Coach Sansing said. "Getting drafted by the Mets is a result of his hard work and dedication, and I'm excited for him and his future."

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2017: Second Team All-ASUN

2017

Named ASUN Second Team All-Conference after a career season.
Made a career-high 14 starts, posting a career-best 2.45 ERA.
His 2.45 ERA ranked third best in KSU D-I history for a single season.
Won a career-high seven games, going 7-4 overall with a career-high three complete games – which third best in KSU history for a single season.
His three complete games (one shutout) also ranked third in program history for a single season, and ranked second in the ASUN in 2017.
Tossed a career-high 95.2 innings striking out 103 batters, ranking first on the team and fourth in the ASUN.
Dibrell also allowed opponents to hit just .218 against him, ranking second in KSU program history for the lowest in a single season.
The righty posted a 4-2 mark in ASUN play, working 50.1 IP and punching out 47 batters.
Held opponents to a .228 average.
Dished his first career complete-game shutout vs. USC Upstate (April 7), striking out a career-high 13 batters and allowed just three hits.
Followed that performance with another complete game at Stetson (April 13), allowing just two runs and struck out six batters.
Punched out 13 batters in 6.2 innings versus High Point (March 10), allowing just one run on four hits.
That performance led to an ASUN Pitcher of the Week honor, the first of his career.
Went 8.0 scoreless frames allowing just four hits at Lipscomb (April 28), striking out five and allowed no runs.

world champs, here i come...

First baseman Austin Upshaw capped off his two-year career with Kennesaw State with a 13th round (405 overall) selection from the World Champion Chicago Cubs.

"We are excited for Austin (Upshaw) and his family. It's a tremendous honor for him and he's had a long history of playing consistently and hitting at a high level," Coach Sansing said. "He's a tremendous student of the game and the Cubs got a quality player in the draft."

Career Honors:

2017 Preseason ASUN All-Conference

2017 First Team All-ASUN

2017 Drafted by the Chicago Cubs (13th round, 405 overall)

2016 Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week

2016 Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team

2017

Had his best season with the Owls in his second year, making a career-best 56 starts, which was the most on the team.
Batted .333 (74-for-222), posting career highs in at-bats (222), runs scored (43), hits (74), doubles (16), home runs (8) and RBI (41).
Ranked fourth on the team with a .518 slugging percentage.
Posted a .358 batting average in ASUN play, ranking third on the team in 20 conference games.
Ranked second on the team with seven doubles in ASUN play, and tied for first with three home runs in 20 starts.
Posted 22 games with two or more hits, including team high 10 three-hit games.
Also tallied a career-high 12 games with two or more runs batted in, including nine games with two RBI, and one game with five RBI.
Jumpstarted his season with a 3-for-5 performance with a career-high five runs scored, two RBI and two doubles in the season opener versus Western Michigan (Feb. 17).
Went 3-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and a double versus Winthrop (Feb. 25).
Knocked in four runs with a pair of doubles and a 2-for-4 performance versus Winthrop (Feb. 26).
Drove home a career-high five RBI with a home run and a double in a 2-for-5 day at Middle Tennessee (March 4).
Had a 3-for-4 day and an RBI at Auburn (March 8).
Went 8-for-12 with three runs scored, six RBI, one double and three home runs versus Jacksonville in a three-game series (April 21-22).
Totaled a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored versus FGCU (May 19).
Ended his year with a 3-for-5 performance and two RBI versus FGCU (May 26).

Welcome to the steel city....

In the 34th round (1,018 overall), LHP Mason Ward was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking the third Owls' name to be called off and put on the draft board.

Career Honors

2017 Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates (34th round, 1018 overall)

2017

Played a key role for the Owls’ rotation throughout the season, making a career-high eight starts and nine total appearances.
Posted a career-best 3.26 ERA and four wins (4-2) on the mound.
Tossed a career-best 49.2 frames, striking out a career-high 40 batters and allowed just 18 runs.
Ranked second on the staff allowing opponents to bat just .228 against him.
Posted a 2-1 mark and a 3.47 ERA in four starts in ASUN play, allowing nine runs in 23.1 innings.
Picked up his first win of the season versus Savannah State (Feb. 22), tossing 6.0 shutout innings, giving up just two hits and struck out a career-best nine batters.
Tossed 8.0 impressive innings versus Canisius (March 25), allowing two runs on just five hits to pick up his second victory of the season.
Tossed 6.1 frames and allowed just two runs while striking out eight batters versus USC Upstate (April 9).
Tallied his first collegiate complete game versus Jacksonville (April 22), allowing just one run on six hits, striking out seven batters.

Milwaukee keeping a dream alive...

Following a three-day draft process, the Milwaukee Brewers called Gabe Friese and signed the free agent to a contract.

"We are extremely happy for Gabe (Friese) and his family," Coach Sansing said. "He has been a huge part of our program and has been successful in multiple roles."

The right-handed pitcher, who hails from Kennesaw, ranks at the top of several records in KSU D-I program history, including career innings pitched with 267.2 – 33.2 frames ahead of Josh Carr's mark from 2010-12. Friese ranks first with 39 career starts on the mound and tied for second in program history with 16 wins.

Career Honors:

2017 Signed by the Milwaukee Brewers (Free Agent)

2017 ASUN Preseason All-Conference

2016 Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team

2015 Atlantic Sun Conference One-Time Pitcher of the Week

2017

Finished his career at the top of several rankings in KSU’s history books.
Ranks first with 39 career starts on the mound and tied for second in program history with 16 wins.
Finished a four-year career with a 16-11 overall record and a 3.83 ERA in 62 appearances, which ranks fourth all-time in appearances.
Finished fourth all-time with 192 strikeouts –ranking first in program history with 77 punch outs looking—and tallied one complete game and three saves.
Went 3-2 overall in 2017 with a 4.33 ERA in seven starts and 18 total appearances as a senior.
Worked 54.0 frames, striking out 44 batters and allowed batters to hit .260 against him.
Improved to be even better during conference play, going 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in 24.2 frames.
Picked up his first win going 6.0 innings allowing just two hits and one run versus Winthrop (Feb. 26).
Picked up his first save of the season going 2.1 frames versus USC Upstate (April 8).
Went 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and struck out six at Lipscomb (April 30).
Allowed one earned run in 5.0 frames at NJIT (May 14).

Living Out dreams...

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