May 10, 2001
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State Sun Devil baseball players Casey Myers, Jon Switzer and Jeff Phelps were named to the 2001 Verizon Academic All-District VIII Baseball Team when it was announced Thursday.
The trio of Sun Devils dominate the 11-player team, comprised of college baseball players who have shined in the classroom as well as on the field during 2001 and throughout their college careers. The all-district first team selections advance to the national ballot, which will release a University Division Academic All-America team on June 5.
For Myers it was his third straight selection to the all-district team. A standout student who carries a 3.98 GPA in the classroom in Mathematics/Economics, Myers was the 2000 Academic All-American of the Year. The senior All-American catcher is currently leading the Devils and second in the Pac-10 in hitting with a .417 batting average, 62 RBI and six home runs. He is ranked 24th in the nation with his .417 batting average and 15th with 1.29 RBI per game. He recently became only the third Sun Devil in history to reach 300 career hits. With 62 RBI during his senior season, Myers is now only 15 short of the ASU and Pac-10 career record of 283.
Phelps is a two-time selection to the Verizon All-District VIII team with a 3.40 GPA in Communications. He was the designated hitter on the 2001 team with a .298 batting average and one home runs for the Sun Devils in 2001. A career .333 hitter in his four years in Tempe, Phelps is currently ninth in school history with 52 doubles.
Switzer, a preseason All-American pitcher, earned his first academic honor with a stellar 3.44 GPA with a major in marketing. Switzer, who played for Team USA last summer, is 4-4 in 2001 with a 3.86 ERA. He is ranked second in the Pac-10 with 105 strikeouts and 18th in the NCAA with an average of 11.30 strikeouts per nine innings.
The ASU baseball program has been a model of academic and athletic success over the past seven years during the Pat Murphy era. Since 1999 ASU has had four players earn Academic All-America status. On the field, ASU is part of an elite class, being one of only seven schools to finish in the top 12 in the national polls in three of the past four years. The Sun Devils have been a mainstay in the top 20 for the past 28 consecutive weeks. ASU is 31-16-1 in 2001 and at 9-9 in Pac-10 play is a legitimate contender to make its third NCAA regional in the past four years.
2001 Verizon Academic All-District VIII Baseball TeamP Jon Smith*** Cal State Fullerton Sr. Nuevo, Calif. 4.00 Accounting P Jon Switzer Arizona State Jr. Houston, Texas 3.44 Marketing C Casey Myers*** Arizona State Sr. Case Grande, Ariz. 3.98 Math/Economics IF Scott Anderson Cal Poly So. Arroyo Grande, Calif. 3.32 Civil Engineering IF Eric Rodland Gonzaga So. Snohomish, Wash. 3.76 Mechanical Engineering IF Garett Shitanishi Nevada-Las Vegas So. Reedley, Calif. 3.46 Business Management IF Michael Wirrick Brigham Young Jr. Bellevue, Wash. 3.48 Psychology OF Jared Hertz** Gonzaga Sr. La Verne, Calif. 3.94 Finance OF Adam Nikolic CS Northridge So. Redondo Beach, Calif. 3.63 Communications OF Jason Walker Pacific Jr. Ontario, Calif. 3.25 Business DH Jeff Phelps** Arizona State Sr. Yuma, Ariz. 3.40 Communications
*** Three-time Verizon Academic All-District VIII Selection ** Two-time Verizon Academic All-District VIII Selection
Copy By Jeff R. Evans
ASU Media Relations