ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT: Bruins’ Kuenzi Named to Academic All-District VIII Team

ESPN The Magazine / CoSIDA Academic All-District Baseball Teams

NEWBERG, Ore. - Center fielder Kyle Kuenzi of George Fox University, the Bruins’ lead-off hitter who is on the verge of a new school record for runs scored, has been named to the 2009 ESPN the Magazine / CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII College Division Baseball Team as voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Kuenzi, a senior from Silverton, Ore., compiled a 3.46 grade point average during his four years at George Fox.  He graduated from the university on May 2 with a degree in accounting. 

At the plate, Kuenzi has posted a .345 batting average and an on-base percentage of .466.  His 62 runs scored ties the Bruins’ single-season record set by Ryan Munoz in 1999.  Among his 48 hits, he has 8 doubles, 6 triples, and 2 home runs for a .532 slugging percentage, has walked 26 times, and has stolen 22 bases in 25 attempts.   In the field, has a .988 fielding percentage with only one error all season.

Kuenzi leads the Northwest Conference in runs, triples, and steals, and is 8th nationally in runs and 18th in triples.  He is the Bruins’ all-time leader in triples with 10 in his career.  He has played a major role in the Bruins’ success this season, as they have posted a 32-9 record, tied for the NWC championship with Pacific Lutheran at 27-5 in league play, and are ranked 5th in the NCAA Division III West Region,16th in the D3baseball.com national poll, and 22nd in the American Baseball Coaches Association poll.

Other members of this year’s team include pitchers Reese McCulley of Linfield and Nolan Nicholson of Redlands; catcher Cole Bixenman of Linfield; infielders Jon Alia of Cal State-Dominguez Hills, Kris Haycock of Sonoma State, Mark Marelich of Cal State-East Bay, Paul Hartmann of Cal Lutheran, and Tyler Hadzinsky of Chapman; and outfielders Travis Fox of Western Oregon and Corey Vane of Redlands.

As a member of the Academic All-District Team, Kuenzi is automatically submitted for consideration for the Academic All-America Team, which will be chosen soon by CoSIDA’s Academic All-America Committee.

District VIII of CoSIDA consists of all sports information directors and college sports media relations personnel from Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawai'i, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. This is the fifth year for the CoSIDA Academic All-America teams to be sponsored by ESPN The Magazine.