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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Auburn University’s Ryan Bliss, who was in the midst of a phenomenal sophomore season when everything came to a close because of the coronavirus pandemic, has been named to the Collegiate Baseball All-American team.

Bliss, a Troup High graduate, was a third-team selection to the All-American team after starting 18 games at shortstop this season.

Bliss had a .377 batting average during the abbreviated season, and he had two home runs, two triples, seven doubles, 17 RBIs, 21 runs scored, and five stolen bases.

Bliss was second in the Southeastern Conference and sixth in the country in hits, and he was among the national leaders in a handful of other categories.

Bliss was coming off a freshman season where he started every game and hit .281 while helping Auburn make it to Omaha for the College World Series.

Bliss and the Tigers were hopeful of making it back to Omaha this season, but their season instead ended after 18 games.

“I was really excited to see where this team is going,” Bliss said in March, a week after the season ended. “We were starting to click on all cylinders as a team. I had really good hopes for this team, and it’s over.”

Bliss will return for the 2021 season, and he’s hoping to help the team return to the College World Series.

Although Auburn went winless in the College World Series in 2019, Bliss enjoyed the experience.

“Omaha was everything I expected and more. It was amazing,” Bliss said. “It’s one of the reasons you go play college ball. To make it my freshman year was surreal. I was hoping to make it back this year, so that’s on hold. Hopefully we can make it next year.”

Bliss was a four-year starter at Troup, and he stepped right into the starting lineup and was the starting second baseman for every game.

Bliss moved to shortstop for his sophomore season, and he didn’t have an error in 58 chances.