FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University senior center fielder Buddy Sosnoskie has been named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America Division II Baseball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The Statesville, N.C., native has compiled a 3.38 grade point average as a marketing major. He was named to the 12-member second-team.

Sosnoskie becomes the third Academic All-American for the Patriot baseball program, joining right-handed pitcher Sammy Ward (1980) and outfielder Alex Lee (2010).

On the diamond, Sosnoskie led FMU with a .391 average, 56 runs batted in, and a .444 on-base percentage. He set team single-season records for hits (92) and doubles (25). He shared the team lead in runs scored (51), while also hitting a pair of home runs and stealing nine bases. He finished the year with a 12-game hitting streak, compiled 27 multi-hit games and 15 multi-RBIs games, and reached base safely in 53 of 58 games.

Off the field, he was named to the 2012 Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team; is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society; and has been honored by inclusion on the both the PBC Presidential and FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic honor rolls.

This past season, Sosnoskie helped lead Francis Marion to a 40-18 record, a national Top-10 ranking, and a fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament – where the Patriots reached the regional title game for the third consecutive season.

In both his seasons at FMU, Sosnoskie garnered All-Conference and All-Region accolades.

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports. 

2012 Capital One Academic All-America Division II Baseball Team

SECOND TEAM

Pos. Name                           School                                 Yr. Hometown                    GPA Major

P       Mark Himmelberg     Rockhurst                            Sr. Cape Girardeau, Mo.   3.91   Accounting

P       Elias Tuma                 California San Diego         Sr. Fremont, Cal.                3.93   Cognitive Science

C       Devon Myers              Truman State                       Sr. Fenton, Mo.                   3.68   Exercise Science

IF      Nick Adams                Rollins                                  Sr. Orlando, Fla.                 3.84   Economics

IF      Josh Chism               Arkansas Monticello           Gr. Mooreville, Miss.          4.00   Physical Education & Coaching

IF      Jacob Karr                  Wingate                                Sr. Richmond, Va.              3.68   Accounting

IF      Bret Schwartz             Central Missouri                 Sr. Blue Springs, Mo.         3.60   Social Studies

OF     David Atwood            Young Harris                       So. Waynesville, N.C.         3.72   Biology

OF     Josh Haley                UNC Pembroke                  Sr. Jackson Springs, N.C.  3.50   Exercise & Sports Science

OF     Buddy Sosnoskie     Francis Marion                  Sr. Statesville, N.C.              3.38   Marketing

OF     Bryant Walker            King (Tenn.)                        Sr. Knoxville, Tenn.               4.00   Physics

DH     Andy Hall                   Missouri Science & Tech. Sr. Rolla, Mo.                         3.55   Civil Engineering

 #126/5-31-12