LEXINGTON, Ky. — Five Wildcats have been named to the 2008 CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team, with Andrew Albers and Collin Cowgill earning first-team All-District accolades, it was announced Thursday evening.
Albers and Cowgill were two of 12 selected for the first-team in District 4, while Brian Spear, James Paxton and Greg Dombrowski were each tabbed to the second team.
The honor is the second consecutive district selection for Albers, who earned second-team All-District honors in 2007. Albers, the one UK student-athlete selected for the Character Award, has carried a 3.79 cumulative GPA, while majoring in Kinesiology. One of 30 players named to the Lowe?s Senior CLASS Award listing, Albers is a fixture in the Lexington community, volunteering regularly at area elementary schools and tutoring and mentoring children. Albers has worked in a team-best 23 games this season, earning a 6-3 record, a 2.40 ERA and three saves in 41.1 innings, striking out 46.
Cowgill, one of two UK National Player of the Year candidates, has a 3.84 cumulative GPA as a communication major. A former CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2006, Cowgill ? who graduated last weekend, is one of the top college players in the country, ranking among the Southeastern Conference leaders in nearly every offensive category. Cowgill, a junior centerfielder, ranks third on the club with a .368 average, ripping 16 homers and 49 RBI, walking a team-high 38 times, stealing 18 bases. Cowgill was a key cog in the 2006 UK SEC Championship team, hitting 16 home runs, driving in 61 RBI and batting for a .298 average. Cowgill is on the Dick Howser, USA Baseball Golden Spikes and Brooks Wallace National Player of the Year Watch lists.
Spear, UK?s senior first baseman, has accumulated a 3.33 GPA as a business economics major. Spear, who owns the UK single-season record for walks in a season, his started all 49 games in 2008, hitting for a .280 average, ripping 13 doubles, eight homers and 40 RBI. In 2007, Spear batted .358 with 53 walks and the second-best on-base percentage in UK season history,a .527 clip.
Paxton, a sophomore weekend starter, has a perfect 4.0 GPA as a business marketing major. Paxton, a native of Ladner, British Columbia, has appeared in 14 games with eight starts, earning a 3-2 record and a 3.32 ERA. Paxton has saved one game and worked in 38 innings, striking out 34. As a freshman a year ago, Paxton pitched in a team-high 25 games.
Dombrowski, UK?s senior career-record holder for winning percentage, makes his second career appearance on the CoSIDA Academic All-District team, as the right-handed pitcher was a 2006 selection. Dombrowski has totaled a 3.52 GPA as a Kinesiology major, focusing in teaching education. UK?s Sunday starter for three consecutive years, Dombrowski has a 22-4 career record, including a perfect 5-0 record in 2008, with his last loss coming well over a year ago. In 11 starts this season, Dombrowski has totaled a 3.12 ERA, working in 60.2 innings with a 47-10 strikeout-walk ratio. Dombrowski is a member of the Roger Clemens National Pitcher of the Year Watch List.
As All-District selections, UK?s five members are all eligible for Academic All-America honors, announced later in the summer.
UK has had two CoSIDA Academic All-Americans since 2000, Cowgill in 2006 and the 2000 selection, Andy Green.
The Wildcats return to action on Friday, traveling to Tennessee for a crucial SEC road series with the Volunteers. First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is slated for 7 p.m. Friday.
