JONESBORO, Ark. (6/11/12) — Arkansas State senior Jacob Lee, who last week was selected in the ninth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cleveland Indians, was named first-team All-South Central Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association Monday.

Lee (Jonesboro, Ark.), who was the 2012 Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year after finishing the season with a 9-1 record and an ERA of 2.77, led the Red Wolves to a 34-23 mark on the season and the finals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.  Arkansas State finished the regular season at 19-9 in SBC action, just one-half game out of first place in the final league standings.

Lee was also named first-team All-SBC and third-team Louisville Slugger TPX All-American at the end of the season, becoming the first Arkansas State player since Josh Yates in 2006 and 2007 to be named as an All-American and the sixth overall to earn the honor.

“We are extremely proud of Jacob,” said ASU head coach Tommy Raffo. “He is certainly deserving of each and every honor that he has received this season and during his four years at ASU.  He is an outstanding representative of our program and we wish him continued success as he continues his career with the Indians organization.”

Lee, the ASU career strikeout leader, struck out 86 batters on the season to rank fourth in the Sun Belt, including 11 strikeouts in ASU’s two SBC Tournament games to bring his career total to 280. Lee broke the previous ASU record of 251 set by Rusty Bourg from 1967-70 when he struck out five batters April 22 at Florida Atlantic to finish the game with 255 career strikeouts.  He also finished with 24 career victories, leaving him one short of the ASU record, also set by Bourg.  His 322.1 innings pitched are also an ASU record.

Lee has been assigned to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Class A affiliate of the Indians.

FIRST TEAM (eligible for All-America)

C - Blake Johnson, UALR (155 points)

1B - Alex Williams, Louisiana Tech (90 points)

2B - Brock Hebert, Southeastern Louisiana (145 points)

3B - Mike Martinez, FIU (110 points)

SS - Hunter Dozier, Stephen F. Austin (130 points)

DH - Anthony Azar, Sam Houston State (105 points)

OF - Sean Bignall, UALR (160 points)

OF - Preston Beck, UT Arlington (105 points)

OF - Justin Guidry, Middle Tennessee (80 points)

OF - Trent Miller, Middle Tennessee (80 points)

SP - Matthew Reckling, Rice (140 points)

SP - Daniel Minor, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (115 points)

SP - Jacob Lee, Arkansas State (110 points)

RP - Stefan Lopez, Southeastern Louisiana (115 points)

SECOND TEAM

C - Craig Manuel, Rice (40 points)

1B - Joey Rapp, ULM (85 points)

2B - Christian Stringer, Rice (70 points)

3B - Danny Collins, Troy (95 points)

SS - Jeremy Sy, ULM (80 points)

DH - Jeremy Hill, Nicholls (80 points)

OF - Kendall Logan, Jackson State (50 points)

OF - Jeremy Rathjen, Rice (50 points)

OF - Jabari Henry, FIU (45 points)

SP - Lance Day, UT Arlington (60 points)

SP - Quintavious Drains, Jackson State (60 points)

SP - Chance Cleveland, UALR (55 points)

SP - Travis Ballew, Texas State (55 points)

RP - R.J. Alvarez, Florida Atlantic (70 points)