.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Three Gophers Named Academic All-District
5/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Minnesota baseball team had three players named First-Team Academic All-District, as senior catcher Kyle Knudson (Maple Grove, Minn.), sophomore first baseman Nick O'Shea (Blaine, Minn.) and sophomore shortstop AJ Pettersen (Minnetonka, Minn.) each claimed the honors.
It marks the second year in a row that the Gophers have sent three players to the Academic All-District team. All three players are receiving the honors for the first time in their respective careers. Last year, Eric Decker, Chauncy Handran and Matt Nohelty claimed the honors for Minnesota.
Knudson enters the week batting .307 with three home runs, 31 RBI and 14 doubles. He is currently tied for 10th in the Big Ten in doubles, tied for fifth in doubles in conference play and is tied for ninth in home runs in Big Ten play. He has thrown out 11 of the 28 baserunners that have tried to steal against him this year. In Big Ten play, Knudson is batting .315 with three home runs, 16 RBI and seven doubles.
O'Shea is batting .355 with 10 home runs, 42 RBI, 15 doubles and 34 runs. He is sixth in the Big Ten in RBI, tied for seventh in doubles, eighth in slugging percentage, fifth in hits and tied for third in home runs. In conference play, he is fifth in batting average, tied for third in total bases, sixth in slugging percentage, fourth in hits, fifth in RBI and tied for seventh in homeruns. O'Shea, who is batting .431 with 17 runs and 20 RBI in Big Ten play, is one of three Golden Gophers to play in every gam this year.
Pettersen is batting .286 with 37 runs, 28 RBI and 11 doubles. He leads the team in runs and leads the team in sacrifices in Big Ten play. He was a freshman All-American in 2008 and was also an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2009. Pettersen is also fielding at a .954 clip at shortstop this season.
Minnesota has the most First-Team Academic All-District honorees of any Big Ten school and joined Western Kentucky as the one of two schools in the nation to have three players named First-Team Academic All-District. All First-Team honoree are eligible to become Academic All-Americans. Minnesota is the only program in the nation to have an Academic All-American in each of the last six seasons.
It marks the second year in a row that the Gophers have sent three players to the Academic All-District team. All three players are receiving the honors for the first time in their respective careers. Last year, Eric Decker, Chauncy Handran and Matt Nohelty claimed the honors for Minnesota.
Knudson enters the week batting .307 with three home runs, 31 RBI and 14 doubles. He is currently tied for 10th in the Big Ten in doubles, tied for fifth in doubles in conference play and is tied for ninth in home runs in Big Ten play. He has thrown out 11 of the 28 baserunners that have tried to steal against him this year. In Big Ten play, Knudson is batting .315 with three home runs, 16 RBI and seven doubles.
O'Shea is batting .355 with 10 home runs, 42 RBI, 15 doubles and 34 runs. He is sixth in the Big Ten in RBI, tied for seventh in doubles, eighth in slugging percentage, fifth in hits and tied for third in home runs. In conference play, he is fifth in batting average, tied for third in total bases, sixth in slugging percentage, fourth in hits, fifth in RBI and tied for seventh in homeruns. O'Shea, who is batting .431 with 17 runs and 20 RBI in Big Ten play, is one of three Golden Gophers to play in every gam this year.
Pettersen is batting .286 with 37 runs, 28 RBI and 11 doubles. He leads the team in runs and leads the team in sacrifices in Big Ten play. He was a freshman All-American in 2008 and was also an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2009. Pettersen is also fielding at a .954 clip at shortstop this season.
Minnesota has the most First-Team Academic All-District honorees of any Big Ten school and joined Western Kentucky as the one of two schools in the nation to have three players named First-Team Academic All-District. All First-Team honoree are eligible to become Academic All-Americans. Minnesota is the only program in the nation to have an Academic All-American in each of the last six seasons.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballRHP/OF
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballC/1B
/ Baseball2B
/ BaseballHighlights: Gophers 7, Kansas 8
Wednesday, February 25
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Sweep Northeastern
Wednesday, February 25
Sights & Sounds: Spring Training
Sunday, February 22
Postgame Rouser: Gophers-Twins
Saturday, February 21