TOWSON, Md. --- Seniors designated hitter/outfielder Austin Rock (Arlington, Va./Flour Bluff {Texas} HS) and pitcher Brendan Close (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom HS) have been named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America® Division III Baseball Teams selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America with Rock making the First Team and Close being honored on the Second Team.
To be eligible for Capital One Academic All-America® accolades, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.30 grade-point average, be a sophomore, junior or senior and be a starter or significant reserve. Beginning in 2011-12, the program is made up of four levels – NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and College Division (NAIA, Canadian colleges and junior colleges).
Close and Rock were both on the Academic All-District IV First Team earlier this month to reach the national ballot. District IV in NCAA Division III is made up of schools from Pennsylvania. The duo also gives Moravian 38 Capital One Academic All-Americans® including 33 in the last 18 years.
Rock, who was on the 2012 and 2011 Landmark All-Conference First Teams as well as the 2012 D3baseball.com All-Mid-Atlantic Region Third Team, contributed a .364 average, 56 hits, 37 runs, 15 doubles, a team high four home runs and 38 RBIs this spring. In his career, Rock had a .311 average (125-for-402) with 31 doubles, 13 homers, 81 runs scored and 97 RBIs. He was a member of the Landmark Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll the last three seasons including 2012, and he will also be a member of the 2012 Landmark Conference Spring All-Academic Team. Rock completed a dual major in financial economics and philosophy earlier this month.
Close had an 8-1 record, a 2.18 ERA, one shutout, 53 strikeouts and just six walks allowed in 66 innings, and Close has set the school records with 30 career wins, career innings pitched at 268.1, eight shutouts and 285 career strikeouts. He was on the Landmark All-Conference First Team in 2009, 2011 and 2012 while being named the Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year in both 2011 and 2012. Close was also a First Team American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings and D3baseball.com All-American in 2011 while making the ABCA and D3baseball.com All-Mid-Atlantic Region Second Teams in 2012. He made the Landmark All-Conference Second Team in 2010 as well as the Landmark Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll for the last three years including 2012 and the Landmark All-Academic Team in 2011. Close completed his major in financial economics earlier this month.
Moravian completed its 2012 season with a 28-16 overall record, and the Greyhounds were 14-4 during the Landmark Conference regular season to finish in first place and host the conference tournament for the third straight season.
