Arizona baseball's Tony Lira, Nate Novitske named to Big 12 All-Freshman Team

The UA infielders were named to the Big 12 Conference All-Freshman Team, as voted upon by the league’s head coaches.

Lira, one of two unanimous selections for the All-Freshman squad, started all 53 games in his redshirt-freshman season. The first baseman led Arizona in multiple categories, including hits (74), doubles (19), extra-base hits (25), total bases (110), batting average (.343), on-base percentage (.420), slugging percentage (.509) and OPS (.929).

Lira also stood out in the field, committing just three errors and registering a .993 fielding percentage.

Novitske, also a redshirt freshman, split time between second and third base. He started 49 games and ranked among Arizona’s leaders in hits (66, second), doubles (11, second), RBIs (27, third), runs scored (28, third) and batting average (.303).

Novitske had 19 multi-hit performances — second most on the team — including nine games with three or more hits.

Senior relief pitcher Garrett Hicks earned honorable-mention recognition from the league. Replacing the injured Tony Pluta as Arizona’s closer, Hicks posted a team-best 3.94 ERA and six saves, tied for third most in the conference entering this week’s Big 12 Tournament.

Hicks had a 2.37 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in Big 12 play, limiting opposing hitters to a .183 batting average.

Lira also picked up an honorable mention from the conference’s coaches.

Arizona State outfielder Landon Hairston was named Big 12 Player of the Year. West Virginia pitcher Maxx Yehl was named Pitcher of the Year. Kansas’ Dan Fitzgerald was named Coach of the Year for the second straight season after leading the Jayhawks to their first regular-season conference title since 1949.

For a complete list of Big 12 baseball award winners, click here.