June 17, 2004

RICHMOND, Va. - Gonzaga University sophomore catcher Kiel Thibault has been named an honorable mention All-Amercian by CollegeBaseballInsider.com.

Thibault, the West Coast Conference Player of the Year, hit .424 overall to win the WCC batting title while hitting .432 in league play. Gonzaga finished the regular season with a 24-27 record including a 16-11 mark in WCC action. The .424 average was the second highest in school history and the fifth best mark in WCC history as the sophomore from Jerome, Idaho, led the conference with 87 hits. In addition to being named the WCC Player of the Year, Thibault was also named the first team catcher.

Long Beach State junior pitcher Jered Weaver was named the CollegeBaseballInsider.com national player of the year. Joining Weaver on the 2004 first team are: New Mexico State first baseman Billy Becher (a repeat first-teamer); Southern Miss second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir; Eastern Michigan shortstop Brian Bixler; Nebraska third baseman Alex Gordon; Cal State Fullerton catcher Kurt Suzuki; East Carolina outfielder Ryan Jones; UNLV outfielder Eric Nielsen; William and Mary outfielder Chris Rahl; Texas Tech first baseman Josh Brady, who made it as a designated hitter; Virginia first baseman/pitcher Joe Koshansky and Mississippi outfielder/pitcher Stephen Head, who each made it as a utility player.