May 15, 2002

WACO, Texas - Six Baylor student-athletes were among the 50 players named to the 2002 Baseball Academic All-Big 12 Teams, announced by the league Wednesday. Baylor joined Oklahoma State as the only two teams in the conference to have five first-team selections.

Seniors Tim Hartshorn and Justin Taylor and juniors Ross Bennett, Paul Richmond and Steven White were all named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team. Junior Mike Huggins was named to the second team.

Taylor was one of just three four-time honorees selected this year; Taylor earned honorable mention honors as a freshman in 1999, was named to the second team in 2000, and earned first team honors last season and this season. The senior righty is the first Bear to earn four Academic All-Big 12 honors in a career.

Hartshorn became the fifth Bear in school history to receive three straight Academic All-Big 12 First Team selections, joining Jason Jennings, Eric Nelson, Jon Topolski and Preston Underdown.

Bennett was named to the first team in 2000 as a freshman, while White earned second-team honors last season and Huggins received a second-team selection in 2000. The Academic All-Big 12 honor was the first of Richmond's career.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the baseball academic all-league squad consisted of 28 first team members with 22 on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.2 or better grade-point average, while the second team are those who have a 3.0 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his team's scheduled contests. Pitchers must have at least one inning pitched per game played by the team or have appeared in 35 percent of their team's total games. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation also are eligible.

For a complete listing of 2002 Baseball Academic All-Big 12 selections, go to www.Big12Sports.com.