Bogusevic, Crowel Named Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American
Jun 5, 2003 | Baseball
June 5, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - In what has become an annual occurrence in 10 years under head coach Rick Jones, Tulane University rookies Brian Bogusevic and J.R. Crowel were named to the Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-America team by Collegiate Baseball Magazine Thursday afternoon.
Crowel, a left-handed pitcher from Boynton Beach, and Bogusevic, a southpaw/outfielder from Oak Lawn, Ill., become the eighth and ninth Green Wave players to earn Freshmen All-America honors since 1996, marking the fifth consecutive year that at least one Tulane rookie earn the distinction. Both were named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team, along with fellow rookie pitcher Billy Mohl.
The 2003 Conference USA Freshman of the Year, Crowel finished his freshman campaign as the Green Wave's leader in strikeouts and innings pitched with 73 Ks in 106.0 innings of work, while finishing second in ERA with a 3.40 mark and wins with an 8-1 record.
Crowel tallied five or more strikeouts on six occasions, including a career-high seven four times. He pitched at least 6.0 innings in 10 of his 15 starts, and had complete-game victories against Houston on April 12 and at Saint Louis on April 27.
Bogusevic, meanwhile, had a 3-2 record with a 3.41 ERA from the mound, but also proved to be equally potent at the plate where he hit .321 with four home runs, 10 doubles and 36 RBI. He led the team with four triples, and ranked fifth in batting average, doubles and total bases.
The Conference USA and Louisiana Hitter of the Week for March 10, Bogusevic had 17 multiple-hit games, including six three-hit games and a 4-for-4 showing against UL-Lafayette on March 5. He also tallied eight multiple-RBI contests, including a trio of three-RBI outings.
Bogusevic missed the 2003 Conference USA Tournament after suffering an appendicitis on the morning of the tournament opener, but came back the following week to hit .357 with a home run and three RBI in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional hosted by LSU at Alex Box Stadium.
Crowel and Bogusevic were part of a talented rookie class featuring 11 freshmen that lettered in 2003. Also seeing time for Tulane as freshmen position players were outfielder Nathan Southard (.280-4-30), infielders Tim Guidry (.237-0-7) and Corey Penedo (.140-0-1), and catcher Chris Sepanski (.100-0-1). On the mound, Crowel and Bogusevic were joined by Mohl, Brandon Gomes, Ryan Martin, Matt Goebel and Tyler Kimmons to help the Green Wave post their lowest ERA since 1998.
