Niner Named Second Team All Big 12; 59 Stolen Bases ranks 5th all time in Tech History

May 19, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Seniors Chris Richburg and Bandit Willie Rueda highlighted Texas Tech’s placements on the 2009 All-Big 12 Baseball team announced earlier this morning by the Big 12 Conference.

Rueda, an El Paso native, recovered strong from a hamstring injury at the beginning of the season and was named to the second team. The senior second baseman pounded out a .333 average over 32 games while notching 10 doubles and 13 RBIs. He finished his career with 59 stolen bases which ranks 5th on the All Time list for Texas Tech.

In his four seasons, Rueda has been named to an All-Big 12 postseason team three times, taking honorable mention honors following his freshman and junior seasons. Rueda played in only 14 games of his sophomore campaign before undergoing Tommy John Surgery. He led the Big 12 in stolen bases in 2008 and the Red Raiders in batting average hitting .351. “Niner” is a Bandit member of our 1998 and 2000 National Finalists.