May 31, 2005

Keener named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American
Eagles’ utility player named to first team for second straight year

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana baseball senior utility player
Matt Keener(Newburgh, Indiana) was named first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American. Keener is the first USI student athlete to be named to the first team two straight years and only the second at USI to earn the award twice.

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 the institution. The College Division includes NCAA Division II, Division III, and the NAIA institutions across the United States and Canada.

Keener, who received the GLVC Richard F. Scharf Paragon award last week, led the Screaming Eagles with a .381 batting average, 14 doubles, four home runs, and 38 RBIs. The first team All-GLVC utility player 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.

LeAnn Freeland (women’s basketball) was the first USI student athlete to win the award twice (1996 and 1997). Other USI student athletes to earn Academic All-American honors are Sheri Kaiser (volleyball, 1993) Karianne Osowski (softball, 1995) Amber Huse (softball, 1995) Andrew Majxner (men’s tennis, 2001) Kristi Kavanaugh (volleyball, 2002) and Duncan Bray (soccer, 2002).

2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America
College Division Baseball Team

First Team
Pos.   Name            School               Yr.
P      Steve Broski     Augustana(Ill.)      Sr.
P      Danny Powers     Central Missouri St. Sr.
C      Adam Duerfeldt   Central (Iowa)       Jr.
INF    Darren Ginther   Augsburg             Jr.
INF    Lucas Jones      Lynchburg            Sr.
INF    Nick Pegelow     Salisbury            Jr.
INF    Ben Sherer       Gustavus Adolphus    Jr.
OF     Eric Cirella     Salve Regina         Sr.
OF     Matt Keener      Southern Indiana     Sr.
OF     Damon Stokes     LeTourneau           Sr.
DH     Pat Moore        Elmhurst             Sr.

Second Team
P      Scott Akamine    Chapman               Sr.
P      Mike Burnett     SUNY Cortland         Sr.
C      Ross Boudreaux   Southern Arkansas     Sr.
INF    Chris Bell       Saint John’s (MN)     Sr.
INF    Alex Shelton     Westminster           Jr.
INF    Andrew Wong      Lawrence              Jr.
OF     Kevin Haney      Embry-Riddle (FL)     Sr.
OF     Mike Larson      California (PA)       Sr.
OF     Noah Welte       Thomas More           Sr.
DH     Mike Turchan     Baldwin-Wallace       Sr.

Third Team
P      Brad Lightsey    Delta State           Sr.
P      Tom McCullen     Rowan                 Sr.
C      Darrell Taylor   Apprentice            Sr.
INF    Adam Braveman    Rochester             Sr.
INF    Ryan Corning     Washington (MO)       Jr.
INF    Rafael Garabis   John Carroll          Sr.
INF    Justin Gordon    Emory                 Jr.
OF