2009 Academic All-Independent Baseball Honorees
CHICAGO, Ill. – Chicago State baseball players Kellon McFarlin (Chicago, Ill.), Preston Pires (Kalani, Hawai’i) and Jose Leon (Chicago, Ill.). were recognized Wednesday afternoon (June 3) for their efforts in the classroom as they captured Academic All-Independent honors.
All 16 NCAA Division I Independent teams could submit up to three players that met the CoSIDA Academic All-District/All-America® program’s criteria of maintaining a minimum cumulative 3.30 grade point average, be at least a sophomore academically and must be a starter or key reserve for their team. A total of 39 student-athletes were honored by the 16 independent schools.
McFarlin, a senior outfielder, captured the honor for the second year in a row after posting a 3.61 GPA while majoring in communications. The second-year starter at left field batted .225 on the year and tied for the team lead with seven stolen bases. He recorded a season-best two hits on four occasions and scored a season-high two runs at Bradley.
A senior catcher, Pires batted .242 this past season and ranked second on the team in doubles with seven in addition to carrying a 3.44 GPA as a physical education major. The four-year letterwinner tallied a season-best three hits and two RBI at Ball State, while recording his first collegiate home run at perennial west coast power Pepperdine. He also posted two doubles at Bradley and two RBI at NCAA Tournament participant Kansas.
Leon has tallied a 3.5 GPA with a major in accounting during his second year with the Cougars. The sophomore right-handed reliever appeared in 16 games while throwing 20 and one-third innings of work during the season. He threw for a season-best three and one-third innings in a road game at Eastern Illinois.