June 19, 2012
San Antonio – After a showcase of talent throughout the season and an unforgettable chase for the national title, the St. Mary’s Rattlers’ baseball team isn’t done stacking its awards.
Numerously recognized ace Carl O’Neal (Jr., San Antonio) and veteran first basemen Tyler Migl (Sr., San Antonio) both added another spotlight on the program as O’Neal received First Team selection for the 2012 Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-American Team and Migl earned the First Base Golden Glove for the All-American Gold Glove Team.
O’Neal, the Rattlers’ top starter on the mound, topped 100 strikeouts as he tossed 101 on the season in 103.0 innings pitched. O’Neal’s perfect win-loss record of 14-0 turned the heads of many as he received three Pitcher of the Year Awards, including the Rattlers’ first-ever national player of the year award in the Daktronics National Pitcher of the Year honor.
O’Neal also received the 2012 ABCA Regional Pitcher of the Year and the Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year. His Rawlings ABCA First Team All-American selection isn’t his first such selection, as he also earned the coveted NCBWA All-America First Team and Daktronics All-America First Team honors. O’Neal pitched in his first national appearance this season, grabbing the Rattlers’ only win of the tournament in the victory over Indianapolis University. His slew of honors is celebrated more so in the fact that he has one more season in a Rattler uniform.
Having played in all 60 games for the Rattlers (49-11), Migl ended his stay with the Rattlers with honor as his skill earned him his third Gold Glove of the season. Migl’s Rawlings ABCA All-American Gold Glove Team selection came after committing just a single error on the season through 60 games – and through the high-intensity conference, regional and national tournaments.
Migl’s near-perfect .998 fielding percentage improved from his first-base stance as junior, when his .983 percentage helped earn him Heartland Conference Player of the Year honors. His All-American Gold Glove can be placed with his American Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Gold Glove and his All-Conference Gold Glove, making Migl a tough fielder to replace next spring.
This season, Migl was selected All-Tournament Team for the Heartland Conference Tournament, helping his team to their second national-tournament in program history under the same coach, his father, Charlie Migl. Migl’s senior season ended in a blast, as his first national appearance as a player resulted in the common zero-error play in the field as well as a home run and a triple for three RBIs for the tournament. His All-American Gold Glove will remain part of Migl’s lasting impression from his four years as a Rattler.