Rice pitcher Wade Townsend, Mississippi State first baseman Kate Jaspers, Wisconsin-Whitewater first baseman/pitcher Brady Endl and Southern Illinois Edwardsville outfielder Jenny Esker have been named Academic All-Americans of the Year by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The four stars head CoSIDA's 2004 Academic All-America Baseball and Softball Teams.

Townsend and Jaspers were named in the university division, while Endl and Esker earned player-of-the-year honors in the college division.

Townsend led Rice to a 43-12 regular-season record and a top seed in the 2004 Division I tournament. Though Rice was upset in regional play, Townsend enjoyed an 11-0 regular-season record, a 1.68 earned-run average and 141 strikeouts in 112.2 innings of work for the fourth-ranked Owls. Last year, he was 12-2 with 164 strikeouts and a 2.20 ERA while leading Rice to the national championship. For his career, Townsend is 24-3 with 13 saves, a 2.01 ERA and an average of 11.33 strikeouts per nine innings.

Endl, a two-time first-team Academic All-American, helped Wisconsin-Whitewater post a 39-9 regular-season record and a berth in the Division III tournament this year. Endl hit .404 with 18 homers, 63 RBI, 57 runs scored and an .813 slugging percentage. He also excelled on the mound, winning 10 of 12 decisions with a 2.34 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 84.2 innings. Endl was one of five members of the college division first team with a perfect career grade-point average.

Of the 34 players named to one of the three university division teams, 16 were participants in the Division I baseball tournament.

Jaspers also compiled a perfect GPA during her academic career. On the field, she batted .390 with 47 RBI while helping the Bulldogs to a 39-26 season.

Esker, who also was named the Academic All-American of the Year last year, hit .358 with eight home runs and 36 RBI during a 35-19 season for the Cougars. She is a former player of the year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and she was recently named the recipient of the conference's Richard F. Scharf Paragon Award.

Eight of the 11 first-team selections in the college division have GPAs of 3.900 or better. The second team includes St. Thomas (Minnesota) outfielder Kristi Huegel, who helped the Tommies win the Division III national championship.

The Academic All-America Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by the 2,000-member CoSIDA. Nominees must be varsity starters or key reserves, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.200 (4.000 scale), have reached sophomore athletics and academic standing at his or her current institution and be nominated by his or her sports information director. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and the NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

Following are the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-America Baseball and Softball Teams.

University division

First team

Pitcher -- Garrett Broshius, Missouri, psychology; Wade Townsend, Rice, history, economics, managerial studies.

Catcher -- Chris Westervelt, Stetson, e-business technology.

Infielders -- Tom Blaszak, Virginia Tech, biology; James Burt, Miami (Florida), business/sports administration; Reed Eastley, Niagara, mathematics; Reilly Embrey, San Diego State, kinesiology, Steve Sollmann, Notre Dame, marketing.

Outfielders -- Tom Beechem, Dayton, mechanical engineering; Josh Brummett, Belmont, accounting; Mark Johnson, Wichita State, mechanical engineering.

Designated hitter -- David Dufour, Wofford, business economics.

Second team

Pitchers -- Tommy Hottovy, Wichita State, finance; Austin Tubb, Southern Mississippi, sports administration.

Catcher -- Brad Canada, Bradley, economics.

Infielders -- Brian Bixler, Eastern Michigan, finance; Brooks Colvin, Southwest Missouri State, finance; Brandon Green, Wichita State, sports administration; Andy Hunter, Minnesota, accounting.

Outfielders -- Nick Blasi, Wichita State, business administration; Phillip Coker, Charleston Southern, chemistry; Jordan Foster, Lamar, accounting; Sean Murray, New Mexico, mechanical engineering.

Designated hitter -- Ryan Parker, Indiana, business management.

Third team

Pitchers -- Alex Graham, Pacific, engineering/physics; Chris Saxton, Florida Atlantic, education.

Catcher -- Schuyler Williamson, Army, engineering management.

Infielders -- Brett Anderson, Charleston (South Carolina), communications; Gary Morris, Elon, environmental studies; Dan Soukup, Belmont, business.

Outfielders -- Matt Ciaramella, Utah, business; Collin Henderson, Washington State, sports management; Chris Kolkhorst, Rice, economics/managerial studies/kinesiology.

Designated hitter -- Bobby Barbier, Northwestern State, health and human performance.

College division

First team

Pitchers -- Brian Brzek, Rochester Institute of Technology, aeronautical engineering; Evan Weinstein, Longwood, business administration.

Catcher -- Michael Pelley, Armstrong Atlantic State, information technology.

Infielders -- Curtis Bell, Presbyterian, physics; Eric Cirella, Salve Regina, business administration; Brady Endl, Wisconsin-Whitewater, finance/financial planning; Brendan Rokke, Southwest Minnesota State, psychology.

Outfielders -- Ryan Burke, Pittsburg State, elementary education; Matt Keener, Southern Indiana, marketing; Ted Ledbetter, Oklahoma City, psychology; Rob Morrison, Johns Hopkins, political science.

Designated hitter -- Rob Daggett, Elmhurst, finance.

Second team

Pitchers -- Peter Dean, Washington and Lee, chemistry; Tom McCullen, Rowan, elementary education.

Catcher -- Josh Gaub, Ashland, environmental science.

Infielders -- Brian Ahlers, Pittsburg State, construction engineering; Brad Groth, Elmhurst, finance; Steve Hopkins, Missouri-Rolla, management systems; David Yount, Wingate, sports management.

Outfielders -- Kyle Heckendorf, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, elementary/special education; Michael McLanahan, Ouachita Baptist, accounting.

Designated hitter -- Zack Humphrey, Southeastern Oklahoma State, computer information systems.

Third team

Pitchers -- Adam Blackwell, Lee, business administration; Steve Broski, Augustana (Illinois), pre-med.

Catcher -- Bob Haile, Susquehanna, accounting.

Infielders -- Tim Casale, Johns Hopkins, psychology/English; Caleb Goist, Thiel, biology/pre-dental; Zak King, Tiffin, business administration; Brian Sanders, Chapman, business; Ben Sherer, Gustavus Adolphus, biology.

Outfielders -- Nicholas D'Amato, Salve Regina, economics; Mike Larson, California (Pennsylvania), criminal justice; Adam Mandel, Denison, history.

Designated hitter -- Sam Cunningham, Emory, economics/environmental studies.

University division

First team

Pitchers -- Megan Meyer, Seton Hall, biochemistry; Amy Harre, Southern Illinois, physiology.

Catcher -- Carrie Eneix, Kent State, integrated language.

Infielders -- Katie Evans, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, kinesiology; Natalie Furrow, Michigan State, social relations; Kate Jaspers, Mississippi State, psychology; Marci Ridenbaugh, Kent State, integrated math.

Outfielders -- Sarah Martz, DePaul, secondary education/math; Jaymie Voss, Western Michigan, education; Kristen Zaleski, Texas State, criminal justice.

Designated player -- Katie Shimon, Drake, marketing.

Second team

Pitchers -- Jenny Gladding, Florida, criminology; Brooke Mitchell, Louisiana-Lafayette, business finance.

Catcher -- Ashley Smith, South Carolina, civil engineering.

Infielders -- Kim Dodson, St. Bonaventure, business; Dianna Korcak, Jacksonville, elementary education; Jackie McClain, Alabama, secondary education/ social science; Kim Wilmoth, Baylor, accounting.

Outfielders -- Erin Brooks, Fordham, business administration; Kris Burdine, Ball State, marketing; Iyhia McMichael, Mississippi State, general business administration.

Designated player -- Wendy Jo Allen, Arizona, business management.

Third team

Pitchers -- Jamie Southern, Fresno State, liberal studies; Erin Voeltz, Georgia Tech, management.

Catcher -- Ashlie D'errico, Pacific, English/mathematics.

Infielders -- Stephanie Best, UCF, liberal studies; Kristen Caldwell, UMKC, nursing; Rachel Riopel, Gardner-Webb, biology; Ricki Walker, Colorado State, psychology.

Outfielders -- Cameron Astiazaran, Illinois-Chicago, criminal justice; Auriel Jenkins, Southern Mississippi, coaching/sports administration; Janiva Willis, Winthrop, physical education.

Designated player -- Nikki Denman, Eastern Michigan, recreation/parks management.

College division

First team

Pitchers -- Liz Coburn, Linfield, communication; Christy Deken, Missouri-Rolla, electrical engineering.

Catcher -- Amy Edge, St. Mary's (Minnesota), biology/pre-physical therapy.

Infielders -- Haley Allen, Carson-Newman, accounting; Kassie Long, Central Missouri State, early childhood education; Liz Swary, Washington (Missouri), economics; Maria Zangardi, King's (Pennsylvania), communications/Spanish.

Outfielders -- Jenny Esker, Southern Illinois Edwardsville, physics; Molly Gale, Gettysburg, history; Lori Scheetz, Dickinson, political science.

Designated player -- Shannon Rasmussen, Eastern Oregon, psychology.

Second team

Pitchers -- Sarah Betts, Bluffton, Chemistry; Cari Chewning, North Florida, graphic design.

Catcher -- Kim Rementer, Salisbury, psychology.

Infielders -- Rosie Aley, Salisbury, biology; Stephanie Huber, Florida Southern, sociology/psychology; Chyanne Kleve, Upper Iowa, criminology/wellness; Angela Williams, Fayetteville State, physical education.

Outfielders -- Kate Brandt, Simpson, biology; Kristi Huegel, St. Thomas (Minnesota), business/accounting; Jennifer Kypta, Maryville (Missouri), biology.

Designated player -- Allison D'Ambrosia, Juniata, biology.

Third team

Pitchers -- Emillie Collins, Louisiana College, psychology; Meghan Mooberry, St. Francis (Illinois), marketing.

Catcher -- Nicole Loudin, Baldwin-Wallace, psychology.

Infielders -- Heather Bortz, Moravian, elementary education/psychology; Ria Hoog, Texas A&M-Kingsville, kinesiology; Gretchen Ruecker, Pacific Lutheran, social work; Andrea Wells, Pacific Lutheran, physical therapy.

Outfielders -- Brynn Hasse, Illinois Wesleyan, psychology; Michelle Hofmann, Angelo State, kinesiology; Megan Russell, Albion, economics/management.

Designated player -- Ashley Speak, Nebraska-Kearney, math education.