The NCAA News - News and Features

June 23, 1997

GTE Academic All-America Team announced in baseball

Infielders Andy Matko of Wright State and Bryan Welder of Augustana (Illinois) lead this year's GTE Academic All-America Team in baseball.

Matko, a senior biology/premedicine major, is this year's Academic All-America Team Member of the Year in the university division, and Welder, a senior biology and physical therapy major, earned that honor in the college division.

The honors annually are given to the players who "best represent the qualities of an Academic All-America Team member."

The GTE Academic All-America Team is selected by a vote of the 1,800-member College Sports Information Directors of America. Nominees must be a varsity starter or key reserve and must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.200 (4.000 scale).

Following is this year's team in baseball.

University division

First team

Pitchers -- Jeremy Jackson, Mississippi State, microbiology; L. J. Yankosky, Georgia Tech, industrial and systems engineering.

Catcher -- Jared Sadlowski, Penn State, management.

Infielders -- David Eckstein, Florida, political science; Eddy Furniss, LSU, zoology; Andy Matko, Wright State, biology/premedicine; Travis Young, New Mexico, biology.

Outfielders -- Brey Curtis, South Alabama, political science; Johnny Hunter, Texas A&M, political science; Brian Schaller, La Salle, economics and accounting.

Designated hitter -- Dave Lardieri, Wake Forest, English.

Second team

Pitchers -- James Frush, Texas Tech, history; Matt Lubozynski, Central Florida, business administration.

Catcher -- Erick Rosa, Western Kentucky, accounting.

Infielders -- Ryan Brownlee, Evansville, psychobiology; Aaron Jones, Southern Illinois, mechanical engineering; Adam Piatt, Mississippi State, accounting; Steve Rutkowski, Bucknell, computer science and engineering.

Outfielders -- Jason Meier, Ball State, exercise science/wellness; Adam Sullivan, Auburn, exercise science; Jake Weber, North Carolina State, mechanical engineering.

Designated hitter -- Dan Sanborn, Michigan, kinesiology/sports management.

Third team

Pitchers -- Darren Hartman, Portland, history; Tom Miller, Ohio, exercise physiology.

Catcher -- Josh Dimmick, Kansas, genetics.

Infielders -- Carl Albrecht, Penn State, secondary education; Joey Foxhall, Charleston (South Carolina), engineering; Richard Lee, Mississippi State, accounting; Jeff Pickler, Tennessee, marketing; Mike Scioletti, Army, operations research.

Outfielders -- Jebediah Dougherty, San Diego, business administration; Jason Graham, Ohio, biological sciences; Joshua Williamson, West Virginia, biology; Jeremy Ross, Canisius, physical education/exercise science.

Designated hitter -- Casey Bookout, Oklahoma, university studies.

College division

First team

Pitchers -- David Ciesla, Arkansas Tech, biology/premedicine; Jason Wilson, Catawba, biology.

Catcher -- Brad Nelson, Mount Vernon Nazarene, chemistry (premedicine).

Infielders -- David Lefere, Albion, economics and management; Tom Mager, Case Reserve, chemistry/premedicine; Doug Premo, Cortland State, elementary education; Brian Welder, Augustana (Illinois), biology and physical therapy.

Outfielders -- Bryant Richardson, Arkansas Tech, biology/premedicine; Ron Ryan, Thomas More, business administration; Eric Tryon, Rose-Hulman, mechanical engineering.

Designated hitter -- Brent Rakers, Upper Iowa, management information systems.

Second team

Pitchers -- Ryan Dowd, Quincy, secondary education; Matt Sharp, Oklahoma City, elementary education.

Catcher -- Chuck Anderson, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, biology.

Infielders -- Aaron Christensen, Central Missouri State, math education; Darin Gregory, Wayne State (Nebraska), chemistry and health science; Keith Koenig, Shepherd, business/programming; Mark Mosier, Chicago, economics.

Outfielders -- John Boyle, Oglethorpe, premedicine; Chris McNeal, Millsaps, business administration; James Rinne, Illinois Wesleyan, physics.

Designated hitter -- Steve Baloski, Wabash, mathematics.

Third team

Pitchers -- Jeffrey Doll, Elmhurst, computer science; Ty Hart, Shepherd, secondary education.

Catcher -- Casey Cross, Abilene Christian, human resource management.

Infielders -- Jimmy Costa, Rose-Hulman, electrical engineering; Tim Crowley, Oglethorpe, history; Rusty Dunavant, Tarleton State, predental (biology); Cody Smith, Illinois Wesleyan, political science and business administration.

Outfielders -- Ryan Andre, Northern Colorado, marketing; David Franke, North Dakota State, mechanical engineering; Adrian Gosch, Northern State, economics; Mark Schloneger, Goshen, molecular biology/premedicine.

Designated hitter -- Stephane Dionne, Oklahoma City, mass communications.