Madden Named First Team All-SEC by SEBaseball.com 

May 23, 2005

AUBURN - Auburn reliever John Madden was named to SEBaseball.com's All-SEC first team while Karl Amonite, Josh Bell, Michael Nix and Clete Thomas were all also recognized for their seasons.

Madden was one of two relief pitchers named to the first team. This season, Madden was one of the top relievers in baseball, posting a 6-2 record with seven saves with an ERA that was amongst the best in the nation for most of the season. In 41 appearances, which were second in the SEC, he posted a 1.64 ERA to lead the conference.

Nix, Auburn's closer, and Thomas, Auburn's everyday right fielder, were each named to the second team. Nix also had an outstanding season for the Tigers out of the bullpen, posting a league-best 13 saves, which put him among the national leaders. His 13 saves are the third-most in a single season by any Auburn pitcher. Thomas, who has started in 172 consecutive games, put up another solid season, posting a .327 batting average while hitting a career-best eight home runs and scoring a career-best 62 runs.

Amonite, AU's first baseman, and Bell, the regular catcher, were voted to the third-team by the website. Returning for his final season on the Plains after missing the 2004 campaign with an injury, Amonite hit a career- and team-best .361 and also led the team in doubles (25), RBI (57), walks (40), slugging percentage (.634) and on-base percentage (.466) while also belting 10 home runs. Bell was second on the team in batting average with a career-best .339 batting average while also swatting 11 homers with 55 RBI