May 18, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas -
Complete 2009 MWC All-Conference Team 
UNLV baseball seniors Anthony Morel and J.J. Sferra were named to the All-Mountain West Conference first team, the league announced tonight at the annual awards banquet on the eve of the 2009 Conoco Mountain West Conference Championship.
Morel and Sferra were the two Rebel representatives that were on the first and second team, as voted on by the league's seven head coaches, and the postseason awards were also announced.
Morel, a native of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was the only UNLV player to start in all 56 games this season, and he hit .330 with three home runs, 42 RBI and 12 doubles. A slick-fielding shortstop, Morel was part of a double play combo that helped the Rebels lead the country in turning two, with 72 heading into the MWC Tournament.
Sferra paced the Rebels from the leadoff spot all season, hitting .371 with nine doubles, six triples and a .422 on-base percentage. The native of Phoenix, Ariz., put together a 28-game hitting streak, which is the third longest in UNLV history, and his 85 hits this season mark the second consecutive year the center fielder has reached at least 80 hits.
"It is an honor to be recognized among the top players in the league, especially with how strong the conference was this season," Sferra said. "It feels good that the coaches voted for me to be on the first team."
San Diego State junior starter Stephen Strasburg was named the MWC Pitcher of the Year, Mike Brownstein of New Mexico was selected as the Player of the Year and C.J. Cron of Utah took home Freshman of the Year accolades. TCU head coach Jim Schlossnagle was named the Coach of the Year after he guided the Horned Frogs to the regular-season title.
UNLV is the fifth seed this week's MWC Tournament and the Rebels will open up against fourth-seeded San Diego State, with the first pitch set for 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Tuesday afternoon from Lupton Stadium. The game will be televised on the Mtn. and the game will also be carried on live on KSHP 1400 AM radio.
