UNLV’s Scruggs named to Louisville Slugger All-American team

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Thursday, May 29, 2008 | 2:14 p.m.

The honors keep coming in for UNLV junior first baseman Xavier Scruggs, who was named to the Louisville Slugger All-American Second Team, which was announced today by Collegiate Baseball.

Scruggs, who was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, is the first Rebel to earn All-America honors since Eric Nielsen was named to the Louisville Slugger First Team in 2004.

Scruggs put together one of the most dominating offensive seasons in recent Rebel history, winning the MWC triple crown by leading the league in batting average (.379), home runs (20) and RBI (65). Scruggs is also just the second player in MWC history to earn the Triple Crown, joining Nielsen, who accomplished the feat in 2004.

“I couldn’t be happier for Xavier,” UNLV head coach Buddy Gouldsmith said. “He worked very hard and to see that work come to fruition is very exciting. He adds to a long line of All-Americans here at UNLV.”

Scruggs was named the MWC Player of the Week three times this season, becoming the first position player in UNLV history to win the award three times in a single season. The slugger drilled three home runs in a game twice, and he became the first player to hit at least 20 home runs in a season since Kevin Lofthus hit a school-record 26 in 1989.

Scruggs was one of just three MWC players to be represented on the Louisville Slugger All-American Teams, which featured 73 student-athletes on three teams. Buster Posey of Florida State was named the national player of the year.