The University of Akron Athletics
Simonton Named To Academic All-MAC Team, Akron Baseball Adds Three Honorable Mentions
July 14 | Baseball
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CLEVELAND - University of Akron baseball student-athlete Kris Simonton has earned Academic All-MAC Team honors for the 2014 season while teammates Zach Beaver, Matt LaRocca, and James Sheltrown received Honorable Mentions, the league office announced Friday.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
The voting process was completed by the faculty athletics representatives at each MAC member institution.
Simonton is recognized after posting a 3.495 GPA as a Sport Management major, making the 2013 Dean's List. A sophomore from Dublin, Ohio, Simonton started 50 games for the Zips this season after appearing in just 16 in 2013. With a team-high .320 average and second-best .404 on-base percentage, Simonton notched six extra base hits in his second year, including his first career home run on May 9 at Northern Illinois in a contest in which he got on base five times (three hits and two walks). Compiling four three-hit games in 2014, Simonton also crossed home 39 times for the team-high in runs scored. He added seven hits in four games of the MAC Tournament and was recognized as the College Sports Madness MAC Player of the Week in the week ending March 25.
Beaver, another member of the 2013 Dean's List, compiled a 3.225 GPA as a Supply Chain/Operations Management major. Appearing in 18 games in relief during his sophomore campaign, Beaver put up a 5-0 record this year, pitching to a 4.73 ERA and 1.73 WHIP. The sophomore from Canal Winchester, Ohio, struck out 19 while only walking 10 in his 32.1 innings pitched. Beaver's top performance came on April 13 at home against Ohio when he completed three innings out of the bullpen while allowing no runs on one hit and recording one strikeout along with the win.
LaRocca, a Business Administration major with a 3.232 GPA, also made the 2013 Dean's List at Akron. The team's leader in home runs with five in 2014, LaRocca also hit three doubles on his way to 29 hits in 127 at bats. Also a pitcher for the Zips, LaRocca made 16 appearances out of the bullpen, totaling 25 strikeouts in 24.1 innings of work. The redshirt junior from Stony Brook, N.Y., tallied five saves, also a team-high, on his way to a 3.33 ERA. LaRocca added five hits in the MAC Tournament.
Sheltrown, a redshirt senior from Springboro, Ohio, led the team with a .448 on-base percentage (.464 in conference play), totaling 34 walks and 45 hits while reaching base safely in 41 of 54 games played. At Milwaukee on March 9, Sheltrown reached base five times on three hits and two walks, including a double and two RBIs. Sheltrown appeared in 165 games for the Zips over his four years at Akron.
