June 1, 2000

ST. LOUIS - Third baseman Mark Teixeira, who led Georgia Tech to a 47-14 record in the regular season and a No. 1 seed in NCAA Division I baseball championships, today was named The Sporting News College Baseball Player of the Year. Louisiana State second baseman Mike Fontenot was named Freshman of the Year.

Teixeira, a sophomore from Severna, Md., finished the regular season as the ACC's leader in batting average (.420), home runs (16), runs (100), slugging percentage (.767) and on-base percentage (.546). One of next year's top draft prospects, Teixeira is the first Georgia Tech player to score 100 runs in a season.

Fontenot has 16 home runs this season, breaking LSU's freshman record of 15, which was held by teammate Blair Barbier. Fontenot has been one of the Tigers' best offensive weapons and finished the regular season tied for the SEC lead in runs scored (80) and is among his team's leaders in batting average (.344), RBIs (60), slugging percentage (.585) and on-base percentage (.440).

THE SPORTING NEWS ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

First team
First base: Todd Faulkner, Auburn, Jr,. Second base: Chase Utley, UCLA, Jr. Third base: Mark Teixeira, Georgia Tech, So. Shortstop: Darren Fenster, Rutgers, Sr. Catcher: Dane Sardinha, Pepperdine, Jr. Outfield: Gabe Gross, Auburn, So.; Mitch Jones, Arizona State, Sr.; Frank Corr, Stetson, Jr. Designated hitter: Casey Myers, Arizona State, Jr. Utility: Ben Diggins (RHP/DH), Arizona, So.

Pitchers: Kip Bouknight (RHP), South Carolina, Jr.; Shane Komine (RHP), Nebraska, So.; Lenny DiNardo (LHP), Stetson, So.; Justin Wayne (RHP), Stanford, Jr.; Chad Hawkins (RHP), Baylor, Sr. Reliever: Charlie Thames (RHP), Texas, Jr.

Second team
First base: Chris Williamson, McNeese State, Jr. Second base: Richard Lewis, Georgia Tech, So. Third base: Xavier Nady, California, Jr. Shortstop: Tim Hummel, Old Dominion, Jr. Catcher: Scott Walter, Loyola Marymount, Jr. Outfield: Bill Scott, UCLA, Jr.; Tyrell Godwin, North Carolina, Jr.; Tim Olson, Florida, Jr. Designated hitter: Brad Cresse, Louisiana State, Sr. Utility: Jeff Bajenaru (OF/RHP), Oklahoma, Sr.

Pitchers: Rik Currier (RHP), Southern California, Jr.; Aaron Heilman (RHP), Notre Dame, Jr.; Beau Hale (RHP), Texas, Jr.; Kyle Crowell (RHP), Houston, Jr.; Adam Johnson (RHP), Cal State Fullerton, Jr. Reliever: Cory Scott (RHP), East Carolina, Sr.

Player of the Year
Mark Teixeira, 3B, Georgia Tech, So.

Freshman of the Year
Mike Fontenot, 2B, Louisiana State