Duck Freshman, All American
UO release – EUGENE, Ore. – Following a stellar freshman season, Oregon shortstop Maddox Molony has been named a second-team freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Molony is just the fourth Oregon player ever named to the NCBWA Freshman All-America Team, and the first Ducks’ position player. He joins relief pitcher Kenyon Yovan, the lone first-team honoree, relief pitcher Garrett Cleavinger and starting pitcher Cole Irvin. Molony (Springfield, Ore. / Thurston HS) set a program record for most home runs by a freshman (10) while finishing second on the team in hitting with a .315 batting average. Molony, who missed the first nine games with an injury and did not become a regular starter until March 28, had 12 multiple-hit and 10 multiple-RBI games in his 39 starts. Molony also played superb defense at shortstop committing just three errors in 147 chances, finishing with a .980 fielding percentage.
OSU’s Bazzana Finalist for Golden Glove Award
OSU release – CARY, N.C. – Oregon State junior Travis Bazzana has been named one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top amateur player. The finalists, include Georgia’s Charlie Condon and Arkansas’ Hagen Smith. Bazzana is the fourth player in school history to be named a finalist, joining Michael Conforto (2014), Adley Rutschman (2019) and Cooper Hjerpe (2022). Bazzana is aiming to become the second Beaver to win the honor, following Rutschman in 2019. The winner of the 2024 honor will be announced on June 22 at 4 p.m. PT, ahead of the Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Bazzana has set the Oregon State single-season program record for home runs at 28, runs scored (84) and total bases (193). He ranks second in the nation with 74 walks, a .575 on-base percentage, .937 slugging percentage and 1.512 OPS. The Pac-12 Player of the Year, he entered the Lexington Super Regional with a .415 batting average, which ranks fourth in the nation. He has seven multiple-home run games this season, and 10 games with three or more runs batted in. He’s added 16 doubles, four triples, a career-high 66 RBI and 16 stolen bases this season.
