University of North Carolina Athletics
Ackley Adds Fifth All-America Selection, All-CWS Honors
June 25, 2009 | Baseball
June 25, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The honors continued to roll in for North Carolina first baseman Dustin Ackley Wednesday, as he garnered his fifth first-team All-America nod of 2009 and was recognized with a spot on the College World Series All-Tournament Team for a record third straight season. Ackley, who was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-America First Team, was joined on the All-CWS team by third baseman Kyle Seager.
In addition to the All-America honor, Ackley (first team) and right-hander Alex White (second team) claimed ABCA/Rawlings All-Atlantic Region accolades.
Ackley, who was a first-team All-America pick by the ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Rivals.com, is the first consensus first-team All-America at UNC since Andrew Miller in 2006. Carolina's career leader in average, hits, runs and total bases, the Walnut Cove, N.C., native posted an ACC-best .417 average and 22 home runs, while also adding 111 hits, 75 runs, 73 RBI, a .763 slugging percentage and a .512 on-base mark.
Ackley, who hit .500 (8-16) with two runs and three RBI in three games in Omaha this season, is the first player to ever be named to three consecutive All-CWS teams. He wrapped up the 2009 College World Series on a 22-game NCAA Tournament hitting streak and set the CWS career record with 28 base hits in just 15 games.
Seager earned his first All-CWS honor by leading Carolina with a .538 average (7-13) in Omaha this season. He doubled twice, hit a home run and drove in three.
A first-team all-conference pick, White went 8-4 with a 3.87 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 107 innings. The Greenville, N.C., product led the ACC in strikeouts and innings and ranked among the league's top 10 in wins, shutouts, opponent average and complete games. White is second in school history with 317 strikeouts and tied for fifth with 27 victories.
