June 6, 2001

WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- Wake Forest freshman first baseman Jamie D'Antona was selected by Collegiate Baseball Magazine as the co-national freshman of the year on Wednesday. D'Antona shared the honor with Louisiana State pitcher Lane Mestepey.

Demon Deacon pitchers Kyle Sleeth and Adam Hanson were named honorable mention Freshman All-Americans by the publication as well as utility players Steve LeFaivre and Josh Hansen.

D'Antona, a native of Trumbull, Conn., finished his rookie campaign with a .364 batting average, 17 home runs and 77 RBI. He ended the season on a 13-game hitting streak and added his name to the NCAA record books when he blasted three home runs in an NCAA Tournament game against Tennessee Tech on May 26. He became just the fifth player in history to hit three or more homers in a single NCAA tournament game.

In five games at the Knoxville regional, D'Antona had five home runs and was named to the All-Regional team. D'Antona was also a second team All-ACC selection as a first baseman and made the ACC All-Tournament team.

Sleeth was instrumental in the team's run to an ACC Championship with an outstanding performance against Georgia Tech in the conference tournament. He led the team with 10 wins against just three losses and a 5.03 ERA. Hanson had a 5-3 record with a 5.30 ERA and appeared in 26 games in relief for Wake Forest.

D'Antona, Sleeth, Hanson, LeFaivre and Hansen give the Demon Deacons 11 Freshman All-Americans in school history. They join Jon Palmieri, Pat Malloy, Mike MacDougal, Danny Borrell, Corey Slavik and Ben Clayton as Deacons who have earned that distinction.