PLAYERS HIGH SCHOOL: Coached by John Reeves at West Aurora High School • Earned three varsity letters at West Aurora, pitching and playing in the outfield • Collected a .403 clip in 90 games, and struck out just once in 285 at-bats • Named Academic All-Conference all three years • Upstate 8 Conference All-Conference as a senior in 2015 • Team captain and MVP for senior season • Earned 2014 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American honors as a junior. PERSONAL: Born Jared Timothy Liebelt on Jan. 20, 1997 in Milwaukee, Wisc. • Son of Tim and Jodi Liebelt • Has one sister, Jordyn • Favorite TV show is New Girl and favorite movie is Star Wars • Majoring in psychology • Chose MSU over Arizona and Kentucky.
#16 OWEN LOVELL 6-4 • 222 • FR. • OF • R-R • HS Cullman, Ala. (Cullman HS) HIGH SCHOOL: Coached by Brett Patterson at Cullman High School in Cullman, Ala. • Named first team All-State by AL.com in all four years at Cullman • Was also listed on the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s (ASWA) Super All-State team throughout high school • Rated the 154th overall player and 35th-best outfielder in the 2017 class by Perfect Game, as well as the seventh overall player and third-best outfielder in Alabama • Named a 2016 and 2017 Louisville Slugger first team All-American • Part of USA TODAY’s Class of ‘17, which names “the 17 most compelling athletes in the Class of 2017” • Perfect Game tabbed him a 2017 third team All-American following his senior season • Also named to 2017 American Family Insurance Preseason Baseball Team • As a senior, hit . 427 with seven homers, 44 RBIs, 40 runs scored, 17 doubles, 22 stolen bases and a 1.264 on-base-plus-slugging percentage • Was AL.com’s “Mr. Baseball” and ASWA ‘s 6A Player of the Year following superb 2016 junior season • Also recognized by Perfect Game in 2016 as an Underclass All-American • Before the season, listed on 2016 American Family Insurance Preseason Baseball Team’s second team • Showed big power numbers as a junior, collecting 15 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 64 RBIs to go along with a .392 batting average as he helped Cullman win the state title • Flashed his ability on the mound, posting a 7-1 record, 1.43 ERA and tossing 59 strikeouts • The Cullman Times recognized him as the 2014 All-Area Player of the Year with 14 home runs, 29 doubles and 64 RBIs • Hit in 26 straight games in 2014 on his way to being named Class 5A All-State • Two-sport star as he garnered first team All-State honors in football to go along with baseball accolades. PERSONAL: Born Owen Griffith Lovell on June 13, 1998 in Cullman, Ala • Son of Donovan and S.F. Lovell • Favorite MLB player is Colby Rasmus because “He is just a country boy who likes playing baseball” • Pregame ritual is listening to “This Cowboy’s Hat” and eating a mentos • Majoring in agribusiness • Chose MSU over Alabama.
#40 ELIJAH MACNAMEE 6-4 • 209 • JR. • OF/1B • R-R • 1L Cypress, Texas. (Blinn [TX] CC) 2017: Saw action in 57 games while hitting .267 (.292 in SEC play) Career Highs as a true freshman • Posted a 13-game reached base streak and enAB: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 10x, last at Southern Miss, 6/5/17 ters the 2018 season with a six-game hitting streak • Made his MSU R: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 vs. Kentucky, 4/9/17 debut as a pinch-hitter on Feb. 24, forcing a walk • Earned his first H: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 3x, last vs. Arkansas (SECT), 5/25/17 career hit in his first official at-bat as a Bulldog on Feb. 25 • Picked up RBI: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 6x, last vs. UIC, 6/4/17 first two career RBIs on a double at Oregon on March 5 • Hit his first 2B: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 6x, last vs. UIC, 6/4/17 career homer against Tennessee on March 24, going 6 for 13 in the 3B: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 vs. Auburn, 4/28/17 series • Went 3 for 5 with a double and three runs against Kentucky HR: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 2x, last vs. LSU, 5/19/17 on April 9 • Went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored at South BB: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 11x, last vs. Southern Miss, 5/14/17 Carolina on April 14 • Hit a two-run single against Alabama on April SB: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 4x, last at Georgia, 5/14/17 21 • Hit a triple vs. Auburn on April 28 • Went 2 for 4 with a double at Texas A&M on May 6 • Hit a two-run homer at Georgia on May 12 • Went 7 for 15 (.467) in the SEC Tournament with a 3 for 5 performance vs. Arkansas on May 25 • Went 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBIs vs. UIC on June 4 in the Hattiesburg Regional - Played summer ball with the Matsu Miners of the Alaska Baseball League, where he hit .315 and helped lead the Miners to the ABL Championship title. JUNIOR COLLEGE: Labeled as the No. 27 junior college recruit in 2016 by Perfect Game • Played for coach Harvey McIntyre at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas • Named All-Region XIV selection • Posted a .403 batting average, .470 on-base percentage, and .618 slugging percentage while leading Blinn College with 39 RBIs, 46 runs scored, 75 hits, and 14 doubles as a freshman, while also belting eight homers.
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