HAYS — Fort Hays State University junior outfielder Ryan Busboom was honored as the South Central Region Player of the Year for 2012.
The Cortland, Neb., native also earned first-team honors in the outfield, and teammate Nash Smith was a second-team selection in the outfield.
Busboom, a former Barton Community College player, put up large numbers for the 2012 season, nearly leading the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in all three triple crown categories at the end of the regular season.
Heading into the MIAA tournament, Busboom led the conference in home runs, RBIs, hits, total bases and slugging percentage and ranked fourth in batting average.
He ranked seventh nationally in home runs and RBIs, and eighth nationally in slugging percentage and total bases at the end of the regular season.
Busboom ended his year with a .386 batting average, 16 home runs, 66 RBIs, 17 doubles, 78 hits, 50 runs scored, 145 total bases and a .718 slugging percentage. He was a unanimous All-MIAA first-team selection, along with John Calhoun of Washburn and Bret Schwartz of Central Missouri.
This was Busboom’s first year playing the outfield in college after converting from third base before the start of the 2012 season. He also garnered NCBWA All-South Central Region first-team honors, released two days ago.