Fresno State Athletics
Susdorf Honored with Joe Kearney Award
8/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 1, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - The honors continue to roll in for one of Fresno State's most decorated baseball players as Steve Susdorf was named the 2008 male recipient of the Joe Kearney award giving annually by the Western Athletic Conference.
Susdorf becomes the first Bulldog to win the award since golfer Nick Watney after the 2002-03 season. Named in honor of former WAC commissioner Joe Kearney, the awards are given annually to the top male and female WAC student-athletes.
Susdorf, a senior from Newhall, Calif., was the 2008 WAC Player of the Year in baseball and helped lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever College World Series title. He is a three-time first-team all-WAC selection. Susdorf also was named an ESPN the Magazine second-team Academic All-American.
"It is a great honor that Steve Susdorf has won the Joseph Kearney Award," said head coach Mike Batesole. "Over the last four years, Steve has represented Fresno State with class and he has been a true student-athlete.
Steve is the major reason we have won three straight WAC Championships and the 2008 National Championship. This is a great honor to cap off the year for both Steve and Fresno State baseball."
During the 2008 baseball season, Susdorf drove in 87 runs which was the third-best single-season mark in Fresno State history. The outfielder also scored 80 runs in 2008, helping drive the Bulldogs' cinderella performance in the College World Series. He is the Bulldogs' all-time leader in RBI (217) and doubles (70).
"Steve Susdorf, a senior student-athlete, returned to Fresno State this year even though he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2007," said Fresno State Athletics Director Thomas Boeh. "On the field, Steve has been a leader on a baseball team that has won three consecutive WAC Championships and advanced to the NCAA Regionals in those three years. He knew the team had a chance to advance even farther and this year on that third try the team did not stop at the regional level, but advanced through the super regional to the college world series. Steve was the leader and a key contributor in the team's march to the national title."
The 2008 female recipient was Emma Friesen from Hawai'i who won the one-meter individual diving title at the NCAA Championships this year.
2007-08 Joe Kearney Award Nominees Men, School-Sport
Ryan Clady, Boise State-Football
Steve Susdorf, Fresno State-Baseball
Colt Brennan, Hawai`i-Baseball
Russ Winger, Idaho-Track and Field
Mike Coleman, Louisiana Tech-Track and Field
Justin Hawkins, New Mexico State-Basketball
Adam Tafralis, San Jose State-Football
Jaycee Carroll, Utah State-Basketball
Women, School-Sport
Hannah Redmon, Boise State-Gymnastics
Melanie Gloria, Fresno State-Tennis
Emma Friesen, Hawai`i-Diving
Melinda Owen, Idaho-Track and Field
Krissi Oliver, Louisiana Tech-Softball
Inger Appanaitis, Nevada-Track and Field
Kim Oguh, New Mexico State-Volleyball
Brie Mahhenke, San Jose State-Swimming
Amanda Nielson, Utah State-Volleyball
Previous Joe Kearney Award Winners
Year Men, School-Sport
2007-08 Steve Susdorf, Fresno State-Baseball
2006-07 Colt Brennan, Hawai`i-Football
2005-06 Nick Fazekas, Nevada-Basketball
2004-05 Gabriel Wallin, Boise State-Track and Field
2003-04 Kirk Snyder, Nevada-Basketball
2002-03 Nick Watney, Fresno State-Golf
2001-02 David Carr, Fresno State-Football
2000-01 LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU-Football
1999-00 Courtney Alexander, Fresno State-Basketball
1998-99 Andre Miller, Utah-Basketball
1997-98 Lars Frolander, SMU-Swimming
1996-97 Keith Van Horn, Utah-Basketball
1995-96 Keith Van Horn, Utah-Basketball
1994-95 Stoney Case, New Mexico-Football
1993-94 Marshall Faulk, San Diego State-Football
1992-93 Marshall Faulk, San Diego State-Football
1991-92 Carlton McDonald, Air Force-Football
Year Women, School-Sport
2007-08 Emma Friesen, Hawai`i-Diving
2006-07 Kanoe Kamana'o, Hawai`i-Volleyball
2005-06 Kanoe Kamana'o, Hawai`i-Volleyball
2004-05 Jamie Southern, Fresno State-Softball
2003-04 Kim Willoughby, Hawai`i-Volleyball
2002-03 Kim Willoughby, Hawai`i-Volleyball/Basketball
2001-02 Stacy Prammanasudh, Tulsa-Golf
2000-01 Florence Ezeh, SMU-Track and Field
1999-00 Amanda Scott, Fresno State-Softball
1998-99 Martina Moravcova, SMU-Swimming
1997-98 Amanda Scott, Fresno State-Softball
1996-97 Martina Moravcova, SMU-Swimming
1995-96 Nina Lindenberg, Fresno State-Softball
1994-95 Suzanne Metz, Utah-Gymnastics
1993-94 Amy Van Dyken, Colorado State-Swimming
1992-93 Mikki Kane-Barton, Utah-Basketball/Volleyball
1991-92 Anu Kalijurand, Brigham Young, Track and Field
Join the State - Fresno State! - The Bulldog baseball team can be followed in the off-season on www.gobulldogs.com.
