The University of Mississippi Athletics
Head Named First Team Preseason All-America
11/24/2004 | Baseball
Nov. 24, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss junior first baseman/left-handed pitcher Stephen Head has been named to the first team National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason All-America team, and has been selected as one of 58 players to the 2005 Wallace Award Watch List.
A two-time All-America selection for the Rebels, Head hit .346 with 13 home runs and 53 runs batted in 60 games last season. On the mound, he posted a 6-3 mark, with five saves, and had a 2.82 ERA in 17 appearances, including eight starts. Head also struck out 56 while walking 19 in 70 1/3 innings of work.
The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year. The watch list will be trimmed to 12 semi-finalists on May 24, 2005 and the selection committee will narrow the field to three finalists following the NCAA Super Regionals at a press conference in Omaha, Neb., on Thursday, June 16, 2005.
The award, dedicated to the memory of the former Texas Tech shortstop and assistant coach, was won last season by Cal State Fullerton's Kurt Suzuki.
"Obviously, we're very excited for Stephen," said fifth-year Ole Miss Head Coach Mike Bianco. "Stephen has had a tremendous career here, and is definitely one of the top players in college baseball. We're expecting Stephen to have another exceptional year."
Head is the third two-time All-American in school history, joining Jake Gibbs (1960 and 1961) and Paul Husband (1972 and 1973), and last season became Ole Miss' first-ever finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, presented to the nation's top amateur player. Last season, Head also was named the SEC's co-Player of the Year.
Ole Miss went 39-21 last season and was selected for the first time to host an NCAA Regional. The Rebels are scheduled to start their 2005 campaign on Tuesday, February 15 against Arkansas State at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.
