June 14, 2001
TUCSON, Ariz.- Outfielder Shelley Duncan was named to his third postseason All-American team, Wednesday afternoon. The junior from Tucson was tabbed first-team All-America by The Sporting News. The 62nd overall pick in last week's Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft has already garnered Collegiate Baseball and Baseball Weekly All-America honors for the 2001 season.
The Sporting News honor is the first for a Wildcat since 1998 when Erik Mattern was tabbed third-team. UA's last first-team selections to The Sporting News All-America team were George Arias and Robbie Moen in 1993. Duncan is just the 13th Arizona player to be recognized by the publication since 1965.
Arizona's home run leader in nearly ever category, Duncan hit 24 home runs in 56 games while driving in 78 runs in 2001. He led the Pac-10 in homers, RBIs and slugging percentage (.702). He did not commit a single error in 112 chances in the right field, while leading the Arizona outfielders with seven assists.
THE SPORTING NEWS ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
POSITION PLAYER YEAR SCHOOL
C Casey Myers Sr. Arizona St.
1B Dan Johnson Sr. Nebraska
2B Michael Woods Jr. Southern
3B Jake Gautreau Jr. Tulane
SS Chris Burke Jr. Tennessee
OF John-Ford Griffin Jr. Florida St.
OF Shelley Duncan Jr. Arizona
OF Ryan Brunner Sr. Northern Iowa
DH Matt Hopper So. Nebraska
U John VanBenschoten Jr. Kent St.
SP Mark Prior Jr. Southern California
SP Dewon Brazelton Jr. Middle Tennessee St.
SP Justin Pope Jr. Central Florida
SP Aaron Heilman Sr. Notre Dame
SP Noah Lowry Jr. Pepperdine
SP Kirk Saarloos Sr. Cal State Fullerton
RP Lee Gronkiewicz Sr. South Carolina