June 01, 2004
Keener named Academic All-America,
First USI baseball player to earn the award
University of Southern Indiana junior outfielder Matt Keener (Newburgh, Indiana) was named College Division first team Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Keener is the first USI baseball player to earn the award.
To be eligible, the student athlete must be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials and at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale). They must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at your institution (true freshmen, red-shirt freshmen and ineligible athletic transfers are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at your institution. The College Division includes NCAA Division II, Division III, and the NAIA institutions across the United States and Canada.
Keener is a two-time All-GLVC performer after being named to the second team as an outfielder in 2004. USI’s junior rightfielder, who was named to the second team All-GLVC as a designated hitter last year, led the Eagles with 47 RBIs, 14 doubles, six triples, eight home runs, and a slugging percentage of .606. The Academic All-District V performer also was second on the team with a .347 batting average and 10 stolen bases.
The Newburgh, Indiana, native ranked among the conference elite, ranking first in the league in triples third in slugging percentage and total bases fourth in home runs and 20th in batting average. A two-time Academic All-GLVC student athlete, Keener also was the first GLVC baseball player to be named Player and Pitcher of the Week in the same season.
Keener, who is a business and marketing major, is the seventh USI student athlete to earn Academic All-American honors. Former USI student athletes to be named Academic All-America are Sheri Kaiser (Volleyball, 1993) Karianne Osowski (Softball, 1995) Amber Huse (Softball, 1995) LeAnn Freeland (Women’s Basketball, 1996 and 1997) Andrew Majxner (Men’s Tennis, 2001) Kristi Kavanaugh (Volleyball, 2002) and Duncan Bray (2002).
Ray Simmons,
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