May 28, 2005

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Baylor baseball head coach Steve Smith was named 2005 Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year by the Waco Tribune-Herald, the publication announced Saturday. Zach Dillon, Josh Ford, Ryan LaMotta and Mark McCormick were named to the publication's all-conference first team, while Michael Griffin was a second-team selection.

Smith, who also was named Big 12 Coach of the Year by the publication in 1998, led Baylor to its first Big 12 title since 2000 this season; the Bears finished 19-8 in league play. He has earned conference coach of the year honors from at least one outlet in four seasons during his 11 years at Baylor.

Dillon enters Saturday's action at the Big 12 Tournament hitting .320 with two home runs and a team-best 40 RBI. A career .254 hitter entering the 2005 season, Dillon hit .387 (29-for-75) with runners in scoring position in the regular season. He hit .327 in Big 12 play with a team-best 21 RBI.

Ford, who returned to catching duties this season after being used solely as a DH last season, leads the team with a .329 batting average, 70 hits, 109 total bases, a .512 slugging percentage and a .438 on base percentage. He has reached base safely in 56 of Baylor's 58 games and enjoyed a streak of 37 consecutive games reaching base earlier this season. Ford is tied with Dillon for the team lead in doubles with 17; he also has six home runs and 34 RBI.

McCormick has posted a 7-2 record this season with a 3.20 ERA; in 81.2 innings, he has 87 strikeouts and has held opponents to a .182 batting average. In Big 12 games, McCormick was even more dominating, going 6-1 with a 2.72 ERA, 59 strikeouts in 53.0 innings and a .170 opponents' batting average.

LaMotta has anchored Baylor's bullpen, going 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA and five saves. In 65.0 innings over 29 appearances, LaMotta has tallied 71 strikeouts against only 18 walks with a .192 opponents' batting average. Earlier this season, he enjoyed a streak of 28.2 consecutive scoreless innings.