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Frank and Alaburda Named Academic All-District
Sophomore third baseman Jake Frank (Wooster, Ohio / Northwestern) and junior pitcher/outfielder Justin Alaburda (Medina, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) of The College of Wooster were each selected to the Verizon Academic All-District IV Baseball Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced on Thursday. Frank was placed on the second team, while Alaburda picked up third-team recognition, marking the first such honor of their respective careers. Wooster's duo represented two of the four North Coast Athletic Conference players honored on the 33-member squad, which is voted on from NCAA Division II and III institutions and NAIA schools across a five-state district (Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee). To be nominated a player must be of sophomore academic standing, a starter or key reserve, and be maintaining at least a 3.20 GPA. A mathematics major with a 3.53 GPA, Frank has been one of the Scots' top-two offensive threats this spring. He is hitting .434 (62-for-143) with 14 doubles, 11 home runs, and 62 runs batted in, which stands as the seventh-most during a single-season in school history. Also noteworthy, Frank's .790 slugging percentage ranks as the ninth-highest at Wooster, and his .532 on-base percentage, fueled by 33 walks, is currently the third-best all-time in Scot annals. Alaburda, who owns a 3.22 GPA, is the team's No. 1 pitcher and usually starts in centerfield when not on the mound. In his first year as a starter, Alaburda has gone 8-1 with a 3.26 earned run average, while allowing 79 hits and striking out 53 batters over 66.1 innings. Four of his 10 starts he finished, highlighted by a 10-0 complete-game shutout of Oberlin College on April 12. As a hitter, Alaburda is currently at a .298 clip (39-for-131) with 11 doubles, five homers, and 40 RBI. "I think it's a great honor for both of them," veteran head coach Tim Pettorini remarked upon hearing the news. "I think it fits very well with both of their personalities. They're obviously both great players, but they're also both very conscientious of their schoolwork. They certainly deserve (this recognition)." Frank, Alaburda, and the rest of the Scots are hoping that their 2003 campaign is not over after being upset in the NCAC Tournament semifinals by Denison University on May 3-4. Wooster (30-13) is now in the at-large pool for a bid to next week's NCAA Div. III Regional Championships. The NCAA will announce its selections to the postseason on Sunday night (May 11). |
