University of Houston Athletics
Dempsay and Kelso Earned Baseball Freshman All-American Awards
6/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 4, 2008
HOUSTON - After helping lead the University of Houston baseball team to the 2008 Conference USA Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA College Station Regional title game, shortstop Blake Kelso and closer Chase Dempsay were named to the 2008 Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American Team on Wednesday.
Kelso was a regular at shortstop and at the top of the Cougar lineup throughout the 2008 season. A native of Pflugerville, he was one of only two players to start all 66 games.
He batted .288 with three home runs, 35 RBIs, three triples and 19 stolen bases. Kelso also ranked among the C-USA leaders with 199 defensive assists, the second-highest total in UH single-season history.
Dempsay emerged as a force out of the bullpen. With a team-leading 11 saves, he became only the fourth player in UH single-season history to record double-digit saves. The Baytown native set UH freshmen records in both wins and saves.
He posted an 8-3 record with 49 strikeouts, a 2.53 ERA and a .214 opposing average. Both his ERA and opposing batting average would be team bests and rank among the C-USA Top-10 leaders if he qualified with enough innings.
Dempsay and Kelso, who were true freshmen in 2008, were named to the 2008 C-USA All-Freshmen Team in late May.
