May 30, 2008
Oklahoma Baptist University slugger Josh Collazo was named First-Team first baseman on the 2008 NAIA All-America baseball team released Friday.
Collazo, a junior from Tampa, Fla., is OBU's first first-team All-American since Darrin Fowler earned the honor in 1992. He is the first Bison position player to earn the award since catcher Terry Rutledge in 1971.
"I'm excited for him," said OBU coach Bobby Cox. "It's been a long time. That's a great honor."
Collazo established new single-season school records with 21 home runs, 100 RBI and 79 runs scored for the Bison. He started all 60 games at first base for the 21st-ranked Bison, who finished the year at 44-16. His 90 hits were the second-best single season total in program history.
His hitting earned him Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors, but he was also good in the field, earning the Rawlings Gold Glove at first base on both the conference and NAIA Region VI levels. Collazo also was First-Team All-SAC and All-Region.
"I just can't believe there is another first baseman who had a better season," said Cox. "He worked hard for it and I am happy for him. Statistically, he had the best season anyone has ever had at OBU, offensively."
Collazo joineds the Bison this season as a transfer from Ranger College in Ranger, Texas. While at Ranger, Collazo was named Freshman Baseball Player of the Year. He attended Jefferson High School, where he gained notoriety for breaking former Major League Baseball star Tino Martinez's single season home run record of 14. Collazo is the son of Freddy and Ina Collazo.