Dec. 21, 2000

WACO - Baylor relief pitcher Zane Carlson has been named to the Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America First Team, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper announced Thursday. Carlson, a sophomore from Dallas, Texas, was the 2000 Big 12 Freshman Pitcher of the Year. He earned a school-record 15 saves last season and posted a 2.28 ERA in 43.1 innings of work.

Bears catcher Kelly Shoppach was named to the third team. The junior from Fort Worth, Texas, started 57 games behind the plate and hit .296 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI. Defensively, he boasted a .995 fielding percentage.

As a team, the Bears rank 17th in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll.

Baylor, the 2000 Big 12 Champion, begins the season February 1, 2001 versus Rice at the Astros College Classic in Houston, Texas.