Sports Release
June 7, 1999

CENTER FIELDER SAM GEORGE NAMED TO GTE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM
PORTALES, NM — Eastern New Mexico University senior center fielder Sam George (Eau Claire, WI/N.M. Military Institute) has been named to the 1999 College Division GTE Academic All-America Third Team, as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

George was one of just nine outfielders named to the College Division GTE Academic All-America squad as a first team, second team, or third team selection. The College Division includes players at NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA colleges and universities. ENMU competes in NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference.

The Greyhounds finished the 1999 baseball season at 22-30 overall, 6-10 in the LSC South Division. Players named to the GTE Academic All-America Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative grade point averages of 3.2 or higher (4.0 scale). Each player had to be at his current college or university for at least one full year.

George entered the spring semester with a 3.816 cumulative GPA while majoring in Computer Information Systems at Eastern New Mexico. Including the spring semester, he has been named to the ENMU Athletic Honor Roll all four semesters since transferring from N.M. Military Institute. He has been named to the ENMU Dean’s List three times. He was recently named to the 1999 LSC Academic All-Conference Baseball Team.

George earned Second Team All-LSC South Division honors this season, after finishing second on the ENMU squad with a .397 batting average. He hit 14 doubles, 2 triples and 9 homers for the Greyhounds. He was second on the team with 48 runs, tied for second with 41 RBIs, and led the squad with 15 stolen bases on 17 attempts (88.2%).

He concluded the season with a .655 slugging percentage. George tied an ENMU record with 3 home runs against College of the Southwest. He earned a .376 career batting average in two seasons at ENMU. He recorded 123 career hits, while scoring 92 runs and driving in 75 runs. His skills on the base paths allowed him to achieve 19 career stolen bases on 22 attempts (86.4%). He was also a leader in center field, often making impressive catches to end scoring threats.