Klocke collects another honor

Former Southeast Missouri State baseball standout Jim Klocke picked up another major honor.

Klocke was among five players named to the 2010 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award All-American first team earlier this week.

The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I baseball coaches, national media and fans, goes to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in NCAA Division I baseball each year. Klocke, who completed his eligibility at Southeast this year, was named one of 30 candidates in February and then was among the 10 finalists picked in April.

Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year Daniel Bibona from the University of California-Irvine was selected as the award winner.

Bibona, Klocke, LSU first baseman Blake Dean, Ohio State second baseman Cory Kovanda and Georgia Tech first baseman Tony Plagman were the first-team honorees.

This is Klocke's third All-American honor of the year. He also was named the baseball University Division ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year and garnered third-team Ping!Baseball All-American accolades.

Also this week, Klocke was among five Ohio Valley Conference players named to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-South Region team. Klocke earned second-team honors.

Klocke was selected in the 31st round of the recent major league draft by Philadelphia. He is playing with the Williamsport (Pa.) Crosscutters, the Phillies' Class A short-season squad.

Through Wednesday, Klocke was batting .250 for the Crosscutters, going 4 for 16 with one RBI. He had appeared in five of Williamsport's 13 games.