June 20, 2002

ATLANTA - Georgia Tech left handed pitcher Kyle Bakker was named to Baseball America's second-team All-America team, while second baseman Eric Patterson and right fielder Jeremy Slayden were both named to the first-team Freshman All-America team.

Bakker, a 6-9 sophomore, led the Tech pitching staff in wins (13), earned run average (3.14), innings pitched (134.2) and strikeouts (115). Bakker was even more impressive in Tech's run to the College World Series, posting a 3-0 record and a microscopic 0.75 ERA in three starts in the NCAA Tournament.

Patterson hit .346 and stole 41 bases as Tech's leadoff hitter. His 41 steals stand as the second highest single season total in school history and were the most since Ty Griffin swiped 50 bases in 1986. Patterson started 65 of 68 games in 2002, ranking second on the team with 90 hits and 73 runs scored.

Slayden established a new Tech freshman record with 18 home runs, which stands as the highest home run total since Mark Fischer belted 24 in 1997. Starting 65 games, Slayden hit .348 and led the team with 66 RBI and 74 runs scored.

The trio helped lead Georgia Tech to a school-record 52 wins and its second College World Series appearance in 2002. All three players have been invited to the USA Baseball national trials this summer.

Baseball America's All-America Team
FIRST TEAM
C    Tony Richie, So., Florida State
1B    Yaron Peters, Sr., South Carolina
2B    Russ Adams, Jr., North Carolina
3B    Jeff Baker, Jr., Clemson
SS    Khalil Greene, Sr., Clemson
OF    Sam Fuld, So., Stanford
OF    Bobby Malek, Jr., Michigan State
OF    Steve Stanley, Sr., Notre Dame
DH    Rickie Weeks, So., Southern
UT    Jesse Crain, Jr., Houston
SP    Bryan Bullington, Jr., Ball State
SP    Jeremy Guthrie, Jr., Stanford
SP    Tim Stauffer, So., Richmond
SP    Brad Sullivan, So., Houston
RP    Royce Ring, Jr., San Diego State

SECOND TEAM
C    Chris Snyder, Houston, Jr.
1B    Vince Sinisi, Rice, Fr.
2B    Brian Burgamy, Wichita State, Jr.
3B    Pat Osborn, Florida, Jr.
SS    Stephen Drew, Florida State, Fr.
OF    Curtis Granderson, Illinois-Chicago, Jr.
OF    Darryl Lawhorn, East Carolina, Fr.
OF    Chris Maples, North Carolina, Sr.
DH    John McCurdy, Maryland, Jr.
UT    Ben Fritz, Fresno State, Jr.
SP    Kyle Bakker, Georgia Tech, So.
SP    Shane Komine, Nebraska, Sr.
SP    Justin Simmons, Texas, So.
SP    Kyle Sleeth, Wake Forest, So.
RP    Blake Taylor, South Carolina, Sr.
UT    Ben Fritz, Fresno State, Jr.

THIRD TEAM
C    Chris Westervelt, Stetson, So.
1B    James Jurries, Tulane, Sr.
2B    Tim Moss, Texas, So.
3B    Ryan Barthelemy, Florida State, Sr.
SS    Drew Meyer, South Carolina, Jr.
OF    Joey Gomes, Santa Clara, Jr.
OF    Adam Greenberg, North Carolina, Jr.
OF    Brian Wright, North Carolina State, Sr.
DH    Jed Morris, Nebraska, Jr.
UT    Wes Whisler, UCLA, Fr.
SP    Abe Alvarez, Long Beach State, So.
SP    Alex Hart, Florida, Jr.
SP    Philip Humber, Rice, Fr.
SP    Wes Littleton, Cal State Fullerton, So.
RP    David Bush, Wake Forest, Sr.
UT    Wes Whisler, UCLA, Fr.

Baseball America's All-Freshman Teams
FIRST TEAM
C    Devin Ivany, South Florida
1B    Vince Sinisi, Rice
2B    Eric Patterson, Georgia Tech
3B    J.D. Reininger, Texas
SS    Stephen Drew, Florida State (Freshman of the Year)
OF    Jeff Frazier, Rutgers
OF    Darryl Lawhorn, East Carolina
OF    Jeremy Slayden, Georgia Tech
DH    Joey Metropoulos, So. California
UT    Wes Whisler, UCLA
SP    Matt Durkin, San Jose State
SP    Phil Humber, Rice
SP    Chris Lambert, Boston College
SP    Justin Verlander, Old Dominion
RP    Huston Street, Texas
UT    Wes Whisler, UCLA

SECOND TEAM
C    Chris Iannetta, North Carolina
1B    Kyle Larsen, Washington
2B    J.C. Holt, Louisiana State
3B    Jeff Baisley, South Florida
SS    Dustin Pedroia, Arizona State
OF    Dee Brown, Central Florida
OF    Jake McClintock, San Diego State
OF    Seth Smith, Mississippi
DH    Matt Wilkerson, UC Santa Barbara
UT    Tim Layden, Duke
SP    Derek DeCarlo, Fla. International
SP    Ryan Gehring, Illinois-Chicago
SP    Grant Johnson, Notre Dame
SP    Scott Lewis, Ohio State
RP    Taylor Tankersley, Alabama
UT    Tim Layden, Duke