May 9, 2002

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina senior Ryan Schade was named to the Verizon Academic All-District III Baseball Team, it was announced today. With the honor, the Lewisburg, Pa., native becomes eligible for Academic All-America honors, which is voted nationally by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Schade currently has a 3.859 grade point average (GPA) in sport management. He was recently selected his team's Co-MVP for his play and leadership on the field. In the classroom, Schade was recipient of the "Jim Hamilton Major of the Year" award, which goes to the top student in the Western Carolina University sport management department. After posting a 3.93 GPA as a junior, Schade was named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. He also has Academic All-Big 10 honors to his credit, playing his first two years at the University of Indiana.

Schade ranks among the SoCon leaders in batting (.388 - fifth), runs scored (52 - sixth), hits (73 - third), doubles (14 - ninth), home runs (seven - ninth) and slugging percentage (.596 - eighth). He was named national Player of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and SoCon Player of the Week on Feb. 18 after batting .692 with seven runs scored and six RBIs in a three-game series with Wright State. His seven RBIs in game one of a doubleheader at Appalachian State is a SoCon single-game best this season, as are his 10 assists versus Wright State on Mar. 16.

Prior to the season, Schade was selected "best defensive third baseman in the SoCon" by Baseball America. His play at both short stop and third has helped Western rank third in the SoCon in fielding, after ranking seventh last season, and turn 48 double plays to rank second in the league.

Schade is the fifth Catamount to earn Academic All-District III honors to date this season, joining Jason Whaley (football), Pablo Abraham (football), Laura Echols (women's basketball) and Yoneko Allen (women's basketball).

The Western Carolina baseball team will return to action with a three-game series at East Tennessee State this weekend. First pitch is set for 7 pm on Friday (May 10), 2 pm on Saturday and 1 pm on Sunday.

Note: As a reminder, Western Carolina baseball added a game on May 14 (Tuesday) at Winthrop (4 pm). The game with top-ranked Clemson on Wednesday (May 15) will begin at 3:30 pm. Also, Western's game versus UNC Asheville at McCormick Field on Sunday (May 19) is at 2 pm. Previous WCU schedules had the game listed for 7 pm.