SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (June 4) – California University of Pennsylvania junior outfielder
Sam DiMatteo (Center, Pa./Center) was a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Third-Team All-America selection on Thursday.
DiMatteo posted one of the most balanced offensive seasons in program history in 2009. He posted a career-high .405 batting average (70-for-173) with 12 doubles, two triples, 12 homers, 50 RBI, 57 runs scored and 40 stolen bases. The three-year starter led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in steals and was among the league leaders in several categories, including average, runs, homers, and slugging percentage (.705).
DiMatteo set a single-season school record and ranked fourth in the nation with 40 steals. He enters his senior season only eight stolen bases shy of breaking the career school record, which was set this season by outfielder
Jon Selby (New Brighton, Pa./New Brighton). DiMatteo also broke a 12-year old school record for runs scored, touching home plate 57 times in 2009.
DiMatteo was also named a Second-Team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) earlier this off-season. The 5-11 outfielder also received All-PSAC West First Team honors for a second-straight year and was a first-team all-region selection by ABCA, Daktronics and NCBWA.
Senior shortstop
Shayne Busti (Crucible, Pa./Carmichaels) earned All-America Honorable Mention from the NCBWA. In his first year with the program, he led the team with a .415 average (66-for-159), 55 RBI, and a .473 on-base percentage. Busti collected 14 doubles, one triple and eight homers at the plate this year and registered a team-high 101 assists in the field.