Wingate’s Yount, Catawba’s Baker, Presbyterian’s White Named to ABCA All-America Team

Catawba College junior second baseman Matt Baker (Charlotte, NC) has earned second team All-America honors as voted on by the American Baseball Coaches of America. Baker had earlier been named the Rawlings/ABCA NCAA II South Region Player of the Year.

Baker, a former standout at Central Cabarrus High School, led Catawba and the South Atlantic Conference with a .411 batting average. His 30 doubles set a league and school record, while his 99 hits was just one shy of the SAC mark. His 60 RBI ranked third in the league, while he added four triples and 11 home runs.

Wingate University senior shortstop David Yount (Forest City, N.C.) has also been selected to the 2004 Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-American second team. The ABCA's All-American committee announced the teams at the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championships in Montgomery, Ala. Tuesday afternoon.

Yount is the eighth Wingate University baseball player to earn Rawlings/ABCA NCAA Division II All-American honors. Wingate joined the NCAA in 1993. The most recent selection was catcher John Spencer in 2003. Pitcher Danny Lampley was a two-time All-American (1997, 1998). Four outfielders were named Rawlings/ABCA NCAA Division II All-American once each: Chris Torres (2001), Jason Foster (1999), Darren Hayes (1995) and Allen Thomas (1995).

A first team All-South Region selection in 2004, Yount led the Bulldogs in batting average (.401), runs (50), hits (87), stolen bases (25) and multiple-hit games (26). In addition, Yount had a 13-game hitting streak in 2004, tops on the team.

Wingate's 2004 baseball team MVP, Yount was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. He earned All-SAC first team honors two seasons. His senior season, he was listed in every South Atlantic Conference statistical category, including number two in stolen bases.

Yount earned Academic All-America® baseball third team honors in 2003. He is the first-ever Wingate University baseball player to earn Academic All-America® laurels. In 2004, Yount was named Academic All-District III, first team for the second year in a row.

Yount was one of three South Atlantic Conference representatives on the 2004 Rawlings/ABCA NCAA Division II All-American second team. Catawba College senior second baseman Matt Baker and Presbyterian College senior outfielder Kevin White joined Yount on the second team.

The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) announced today its 2004 Rawlings/ABCA All-America teams with Presbyterian College senior centerfielder Kevin White (Spartanburg, SC) selected to the second team.

White, a 6-2, 190-lb centerfielder/pitcher, once again led the Blue Hose offense this season. He led PC hitters in at-bats (193), hits (78), runs scored (58), doubles (17), triples (6), homeruns (11), RBI (53), and total bases (140). White hit .404 this season with 78 hits, 58 runs scored, 17 doubles, 6 triples, 11 homeruns, 53 RBI, 140 total bases, and 31 walks.

On the mound, White led the Presbyterian pitching staff with seven victories. He finished the year with an 4.15 ERA, throwing 73.2 innings while striking out 51 batters. The Blue Hose finished the season 25-30 overall and posted a 11-10 in the South Atlantic Conference good for fourth place finish.

White, a former Spartanburg High School standout, finishes his career as one of the best players in Blue Hose baseball history. He ranks first in Blue Hose program career history in batting average (.384), hits (321), runs scored (212), doubles (60), triples (13), homeruns (47), RBI (216), total bases (548), and slugging percentage (.656). White also ranks among the nation's best in NCAA Division II career statistics. He ranks 2nd in total bases (548), 5th in career hits (321), and tied for 15th in both runs scored (212) and RBI (216).

Along with earning first team all-region honors, White has earned several other honors this season including 2004 South Atlantic Conference Co-Player of the Year, 1st Team All-SAC (outfielder), 2nd Team All-SAC (pitcher). For his career, White is the program's first two-time ABCA All-American selection and three-time ABCA All-Region selection. He was also named to the second team ABCA All-American Team in 2002.

2004 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II All-American Baseball Teams

FIRST TEAM
1B - Tim Richt, Wayne State (Neb.), Sr.
2B - Kevin Sewell, Quincy, Sr.
3B - Matt Levering, Regis, Sr.
SS - Robert Morgan, Valdosta State, Jr.
INF - Joe Dirnberger, Mesa State, Sr.
C - Eric Cavers, Franklin Pierce, Jr.
OF - Jud Thigpen, Delta State, Sr.
OF - Larry Pittmon, Columbus State, Sr.
OF - Francisco Leandro, Central Missouri State, Jr.
OF - Tony Wittmus, Colorado-State Pueblo, Sr.
DH - Chris Reed, Delta State, Sr.
P - Evan Englebrook, Shippensburg, Sr.
P - Garrett Murdy, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Jr.
P - Steve Sharpe, Central Missouri State, Jr.
P - Steve Sloan, Bryant, Jr.
RP - Brian Baker, Columbus State, Jr.

SECOND TEAM
1B - Tom Everidge, Sonoma State, Jr.
2B - Matt Baker, Catawba, Jr.
3B - Mark Broome, Delta State, Sr.
SS - David Yount, Wingate, Sr.
INF - Dennis Blackmon, Barton, Jr.
C - Charlie Drummond, Shepherd, Sr.
OF - Kevin White, Presbyterian, Sr.
OF - Brandon Cornell, Ashland, Jr.
OF - Todd Morben, Regis, Sr.
OF - Chad Stecker, Shippensburg, Jr.
DH - Steve Parrish, Mount Olive, Sr.
P - Travis Stanton, North Florida, Jr.
P - Steve Edsall, Rollins, Sr.
P - Shawn Martinez, Colorado State-Pueblo, Sr.
P - Matt Rafeld, Grand Valley State, Sr.
RP - Nick Burger, Chico State, Jr.

THIRD TEAM
1B - Bobby Beeson, Southern Arkansas, Jr.
2B - Brandon Burgess, Sonoma State, Jr.
3B - Jeff Robbins, Pfeiffer, Sr.
SS - Jeremiah Piepkorn, North Dakota State, Sr.
INF - Toby Rice, Rollins, Sr.
C - Danny Cummins, Colorado State-Pueblo, Jr.
OF - Aharon Eggleston, Southern Arkansas, Jr.
OF - Mickey Ryan, Bryant, Jr.
OF - Deacon Burns, Northern State, Jr.
OF - Jeff Bieker, Fort Hays State, So.
DH - Jason Crawford, Mesa State, Sr.
P - Derrik Moeves, Northern Kentucky, So.
P - J.J. Scheving, North Dakota, Sr.
P - Jeff Wigdahl, St. Mary's, Sr.
P - Randy Dicken, Shippensburg, Jr.
RP - Justin Boza, Tampa, Jr.

Position Player of the Year: Jud Thigpen, Delta State, Sr.
Pitcher of the Year: Garrett Murdy, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Jr.
NCAA Division II Player of the Year: Jud Thigpen, Delta State, Sr.
NCAA Division II Coach of the Year: TBA--coach of national championship team