Pearson named NAIA Preseason All-American
November 19, 2012
KASAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2013 Baseball Preseason All-America Team on Monday. The 17-member team was selected by the NAIA-Baseball Coaches Association (NAIA-BCA) All-America Committee. LSU Shreveport's outfielder Kyle Pearson was one of 17 players in the nation to be selected to the NAIA Preseason All-American Team.
Pearson, a senior from Stonewall, Louisiana, had an outstanding 2012 season as he helped lead the Pilots to an impressive 54-6 record and third place finish at the Avista-NAIA World Series. His stats included some impressive number that included: .353 avg, 22-doubles, five-triples, 14-homers, 66-runs batted in, 42-walks, and 13-15 in the stolen base department.
The 2012 season was one for Pearson to remember but there isn't much left in terms of awards that he hasn't already received. This outfielder was chosen as the 2012 Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Year while being selected to the RRAC First Team. He was also selected to the following: Louisiana Sports Writers Association First Team, NAIA First Team All-American, and to the Rawlings Gold Glove Team with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
LSUS Head Coach Rocke Musgraves is excited to see what Pearson will do in 2013, "Just to think that he put up the numbers that he did last year as a junior is impressive. But to Kyle it's not about the numbers, his work ethic is what got him to where he is today."
Despite the bulky stats and accolades Pearson received last season he still was not rewarded by the scouts in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft in June of 2012. "He is without a doubt the best undrafted player that I have had the privilege of coaching," Musgraves said.
Pearson is always one of the one's ready to take some extra cuts in the cage when practice is not scheduled. In fact, the type of batting gloves that he uses goes to show the type of hard worker that he is as he wears the leather work gloves instead of the traditional baseball batting gloves because they simply last longer.
"I go through a season with only one pair of work gloves as opposed to going through at least 12-15 pair of baseball batting gloves for a spring season," said Pearson. "I have a drive to get better every day; I know that there is a pitcher out there working just as hard as I am or maybe even harder, so I have to try and work even harder so he doesn't beat me on game day," he continued.
The 2013 Pilots will open the season on the road on February 1st, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, at William Carey University at 6 p. m. The first home game for the Pilots will be on Friday, February 8th, against the University of Houston-Victoria. The first pitch of the twin bill is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
