Boilermakers nationally ranked in final national polls

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue baseball finished the 2012 season nationally ranked among the Top 25 in all four major national polls.

With Arizona’s 5-0 showing in Omaha to win the College World Series bringing the college baseball season to a close, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and USA Today/ESPN (coaches) have released their final polls. The Big Ten champion Boilermakers (45-14) were ranked 21st in the USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll and 23rd in each of the three other polls.

Purdue’s final .763 winning percentage ranked third nationally behind only Utah Valley (47-12, .797) and Stony Brook (52-15, .776). The Boilermakers posted 32 of their 45 victories away from Lambert Field. Their 22 true road wins were the second most in the country.

Purdue also finished the year ranked among the top 10 nationally in team batting average (.316, seventh), hits (665, ninth) and fewest walks allowed per nine innings (2.18, third).

Purdue Male Athlete of the Year Kevin Plawecki, who was recognized as an All-American by four different publications/organizations, is currently in Wichita, Kan., for the Johnny Bench Award Catchers Clinic and Award Ceremony Banquet hosted by the Greater Wichita Sports Commission.

Plawecki is one of the three finalists for the award along with Florida’s Mike Zunino and New Mexico’s Mitchell Garver. The winner will be announced tonight (July 28) at the banquet. Plawecki and his family had the opportunity to meet MLB Hall of Famer Johnny Bench Wednesday.

Plawecki is one of seven members of the 2012 Boilers currently playing Minor League Baseball. Five other program alumni also remain active in the Minor Leagues as well as Major Leaguer Josh Lindblom, who is member of the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen.

Elsewhere, nine returning Boilers are playing in collegiate wood bat summer leagues currently.