Miller First-Team All-American, Frank Third-Team

Matt Miller

Jake Frank

In conjunction with the NCAA Div. III National Championship held this past weekend (May 28-June 1) at Grand Chute, Wis., the American Baseball Coaches’ Association announced the 2004 All-America Team, and taking up two of the 50 spots were College of Wooster stars Matt Miller (Millersburg, Ohio / Hiland) and Jake Frank (Wooster, Ohio / Northwestern). Miller became the program’s 10th first-team All-American, while Frank, a first-team honoree last spring, was tabbed with third-team recognition this year.

For Miller, one of 15 to earn first-team accolades in 2004, it marked his first career All-American honor. The senior second baseman produced a .460 batting average (81-for-178) this season — the fourth-highest in school history — with 32 of his 81 hits going for extra bases. He had 23 doubles, which tied for the second-best total by a Scot, and eight home runs, while also totaling 66 runs, a .534 on-base percentage, and 30 stolen bases to rank among the top-five in school history in each of those categories as well.

"It’s a culmination of a great senior year, and really a great four years," commented long-time Wooster head coach Tim Pettorini, regarding Miller’s selection to the All-America Team. "(Now that) it’s all said and done for Matt … it’s safe to say that he was one of the best to ever play here."

Miller’s statistics certainly bear that out, as he became the fourth Wooster player to finish with an average above .400 (.407). Not only does he finish as the school’s all-time hits and at bats (681) leader, but his 277 hits put him fifth in the NCAA Div. III record book for a career. He’s also ranked among the Scots’ best in several other categories — third in doubles (57), No. 4 in runs scored (206) and steals (70), tied for sixth in games played (177), No. 7 in on-base percentage (.471), and ninth in RBI (162).

Frank, still with a season remaining, is the fifth Scot to garner All-American status multiple times. The junior third baseman wrapped up 2004 hitting at a .420 clip (73-for-174), including 21 doubles, which tied for the fifth-most in school history, and nine homers. He scored 55 runs, drove in 54 others, and during a year, put together a 25-game hitting streak — two shy of the Wooster record. Additionally, Frank recorded the 10th-highest on-base percentage at the school (.512), thanks to 27 walks, and a .730 slugging percentage.

"Jake came back from last year’s (All-American) year, and put up another great season," Pettorini summed up. "He’s well deserving of this honor, too, and now he has a chance to become the second three-time All-American in school history."

Frank also could break several career records at the school with a big senior year. His current .417 batting average (196-for-470) ranks second in the Scot annals, three points behind the leader (.420), and he needs just 33 RBI to establish a new best in that category. Frank also has a shot at Miller’s mark for hits, as well as the doubles, triples, and on-base percentage records.

The Wayne Country products led Wooster to its 11th-straight 30-win season (37-10) as well as the 2004 North Coast Athletic Conference championship, the Scots’ second league title in three years and ninth overall in the NCAC’s 20-year history. Wooster then hosted one of eight Div. III regionals, but finished runner-up to Manchester (Ind.) College.