CONNER CRUMBLISS
Emporia State senior outfielder Conner Crumbliss, an Ark City product and the 2009 MIAA player of the year — was selected by the Oakland Athletics today in the 28th round, who picked him as a second baseman, which is where he began his career with the Hornets. Gotta think his big year this season contributed to this — leading ESU to the national championship game and a regular-season MIAA title. Read the vitals below, compliments of ESU:
June 10, 2009 – The MIAA Player of the Year and former Hornet Conner Crumbliss was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 28th round with the 843rd pick overall in the Major League Baseball first year draft. Crumbliss was drafted as a second baseman after starting his career at Emporia State at second base and finishing in center field. He is the third Hornet drafted since 2006 joining Gabe Medina and John Martin.
Crumbliss hit a team high .397 on the year and scored 92 runs including the Hornets only run in the National Championship game against Lynn. He had 98 hits with 30 doubles, five triples, five home runs and 54 runs batted in. He led the nation in runs this season, was second in doubles, and was ranked third in hits and runs per game. He was eighth in the nation in doubles per game and was 16th nationally in stolen bases. He was named first team All-MIAA and was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player. He led the MIAA in runs scored and was second in the league in doubles and hits. He also set an MIAA and ESU single season record in doubles.
He finished his career at ESU as the all-time career hits leader, doubles, at-bats and runs scored leader. He is the MIAA career leader in doubles with 78 and finished in the top 10 nationally with 311 career hits.
The Hornets finished their season in the National Championship game falling 2-1 to Lynn University. They went 49-14 for their fifth straight 40 win season and were ranked #2 in the final ABCA National Poll.