May 12, 2005
Keener and Wetzel receive conference awards
Keener also named Academic All-District V
2005 All-GLVC Teams
Evansville, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana baseball senior utility player Matt Keener (Newburgh, Indiana) was named first-team All-GLVC and ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V, while senior centerfielder Noah Wetzel (New Salisbury, Indiana) was named second-team All-GLVC.
Keener, who has been named first or second team All-GLVC three straight seasons and first team Academic All-District the last two years, led the Screaming Eagles with a .381 batting average, 14 doubles, four home runs, and 38 RBIs. He also posted a team-best 2.97 ERA in eight appearances on the mound while compiling a 3-3 record.
In the GLVC which mandates the use of wood bats, Keener hit .394 with 21 RBIs and 19 runs scored in 32 conference games before missing the final six games with a knee injury. The USI/Integra Bank Male Student-Athlete of the Year also was perfect in the field, seeing action in eight games on the mound, eight games at first base, and 26 games in rightfield.
The selection to the first team Academic All-District team makes Keener eligible to earn his second straight ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American Award. He was the first USI baseball player to earn this award last spring and could become only the second USI student athlete to win the award twice. LeAnn Freeland (women’s basketball) was the first USI student athlete to win the award twice (1996 and 1997).
The Academic All-District V award was voted upon by collegiate sports information directors. Those eligible must have at least a 3.2 grade point average from NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario, and Manitoba.
Wetzel also is making his third appearance on the All-GLVC teams and his second on the second team. The first team performer in 2004 was second on the team with a .339 batting average, but led the Screaming Eagles with 43 runs scored and 25 stolen bases. He finished his career at USI ranking second in stolen bases and tied for fourth in triples.
In 40 GLVC games, Wetzel hit .301 with a team-best 30 runs scored and 17 stolen bases. He also was only one of two Eagles to hit a home run this spring in the wood-bat conference.
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
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