|
Frank Named First-Team All-American at Third Base
Jake Frank (Wooster, Ohio / Northwestern), The College of Wooster's third baseman, was selected to the NCAA Div. III All-America First Team, announced the American Baseball Coaches Association recently. He was one of just two sophomores on the 17-member first-team. Frank, Wooster's first first-team All-American since Dan Penberthy earned the honor two years ago when he batted .497, is now in position to become the fifth Fighting Scot baseball player to earn multiple All-American recognition. In fact, Frank has the opportunity to join Rick Sforzo as the school's only other three-time All-American, if he can achieve that status the next two seasons. As a sophomore, Frank hit at a .434 clip (62-for-143) with 14 doubles, 11 homers, and 62 runs batted in during 2003. His RBI total was the seventh-highest in school history, despite not having the benefit of a longer postseason, and it rates him 17th overall in the national statistics (1.44 per game). Additionally, Frank garnered a team-high 33 walks, and compiled a .532 on-base percentage and .790 slugging percentage, which rank No. 3 and No. 9, respectively, for a single-season in Wooster history. Along with his All-American honor, Frank was recognized as the North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year this spring, and picked up first-team all-region and all-league honors. For his career, Frank owns a .416 batting average (123-for-296), which includes 51 extra base-hits - 27 doubles, eight triples, and 16 home runs. His average is currently second-best all-time by a Scot, while his 112 runs batted in are on pace to break Sforzo's long-standing record of 198 in that category. Also, Frank is on pace to finish in the top-five in career hits, runs scored (101), doubles, triples, and walks (53), as well as on-base percentage (.497) and slugging percentage (.723). Wooster concluded the 2003 campaign with a 30-13 overall record - the program's 10th consecutive 30-win season. The Scots won the North Coast Athletic Conference East Division with a 15-1 mark during the regular season, but then were upset by Denison University in the NCAC Tournament semifinals 6-8, 10-0, 8-16, and did not receive a bid to the NCAA Regional Championships. For a complete list of the 2003 Division III All-America Team, please log on to http://www.muc.edu/article/articleview/3232/1/67/. |
