University of North Carolina Athletics
Ackley Tabbed NCBWA District Player Of The Year
June 8, 2007 | Baseball
June 8, 2007
DALLAS, Texas - North Carolina freshman first baseman Dustin Ackley was honored Friday as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America District IV Player of the Year when the organization handed out its eighth annual awards.
Ackley was honored as the top player in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland, adding to an already long list of honors for the Tar Heels' top hitter. He was the Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-ACC selection.
An All-America pick by Collegiate Baseball and Rivals.com, Ackley is the first Tar Heel since Brian Roberts (1997) to earn national rookie honors. He was also named the 2007 National Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Ackley is hitting .427 with Carolina freshman records of 109 hits and 65 RBI in 63 starts heading into this weekend's NCAA Super Regional matchup with South Carolina. The Tar Heels are the No. 3 national seed in the tournament. He also leads UNC in doubles (19), slugging (.608), on-base percentage (.465) and stolen bases (10). He was a two-time ACC Player of the Week in 2007.
The 2007 NCBWA District Players of the Year include Ackley, junior shortstop Derek Shunk (Villanova), junior shortstop Todd Frazier (Rutgers), junior left-hand pitcher David Price (Vanderbilt), sophomore pitcher/designated hitter Zach Putnam (Michigan), senior second baseman Tyler Mach (Oklahoma State), sophomore outfielder Kyle Russell (Texas), junior second baseman Jordan Pacheco (New Mexico) and sophomore first baseman Brett Wallace (Arizona State).
