May 30, 2003
Tucson, Ariz. - Two Wake Forest juniors were named to Collegiate Baseball Magazine's 2003 All-America teams, the publication announced on Friday. Third baseman Jamie D'Antona, the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, made the first team while right-handed pitcher Kyle Sleeth, a Golden Spikes Award Finalist, earned a place on the third team.
D'Antona, a native of Trumbull, Conn., led the ACC and ranked among the nation's leaders with 21 home runs and 82 runs batted in. He became the school's all-time leader in those categories during the season. D'Antona batted ..360 and had the best fielding percentage among everyday third basemen in the conference (.926).
D'Antona becomes the 25th Demon Deacon to earn All-America honors, the school's 11th first team selection.
Earlier this year, Sleeth, a native of Westminster, Colo., tied the NCAA record for consecutive winning decisions with 26. The streak began during March 2001, his freshman year, and extended into March 2003. Sleeth finished his junior season with 7-3 record, a 2.81 ERA, three complete games, 102 strikeouts in 96 innings with just 29 walks. Sleeth is the eighth Demon Deacon to become a two-time All-American.
Wake Forest has had a six first team All-American in the last six seasons -- D'Antona (2003), Dave Bush (2002), Cory Sullivan (2001), Mike MacDougal (1999), Jon Palmieri (1999) and John Hendricks (1998).
Fifteen players have earned All-America status during the 16-year tenure of Deacon coach George Greer including Billy Masse (1988), Jake Austin (1989), Chris Kowilcik (1992), Bret Wagner (1994), Dave Lardieri (1997), John Hendricks (1998), Jon Palmieri (1998-99), Mike MacDougal (1999), Danny Borrell (1999), Cory Sullivan (2000-01), Dave Bush (2001-02), Adam Bourassa (2002), Ryan Johnson (2002), Kyle Sleeth (2002-03) and Jamie D'Antona (2003).
Collegiate Baseball is the first of several publications to announce its All-America teams. Later this summer, Baseball America, the National Colllegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), USA Today Sports Weekly and the American Baseball Coaches Association will release their All-America teams.
