Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina junior infielder Daniel Walsh was today selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 3 First Team. It's the first academic all-district honor for Walsh and the seventh among six different Catamount baseball players since 2002.
 
Walsh is WCU's first honoree since Kramer Ferrell collected all-district honors back in 2016. Walsh was among five baseball student-athletes from the Southern Conference to earn all-district accolades, joined by four in District 4: sophomore catcher Travis Lott from The Citadel and three from Mercer in infielder Garett Delano, catcher Collin Price, and shortstop RJ Yeager.
 
Walsh, who just completed his second year with the Catamounts, finished the season with a .304 batting average, collecting 51 hits including eight doubles, two triples, and three home runs including two grand slams. He scored 32 runs with 37 RBI while recording 16 multiple-hit games and multiple-RBI nine times. The Chico, Calif., native added 33 walks and three HBPs as a part of his .418 on-base percentage. In the field defensively, Walsh was a part of turning 24 double-plays in the field for WCU.
 
Walsh, who was named to the 2019-20 SoCon Academic Honor Roll, boasts a cumulative grade point average of 3.79 while majoring in business administration & law.
 
The 2020-21 Academic All-District Baseball Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes baseball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA. First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First second and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in late July.
 
Walsh is a fourth Catamount to earn CoSIDA Academic All-District honors this season, joining volleyball junior Merry Gebel, men's basketball senior Matt Halvorsen, women's basketball senior Lauren LaPlant.
 
CoSIDA's District 3 is comprised of schools from North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. This year's first team was comprised of three players from both Duke and Liberty, two from both Richmond and Tennessee, with the final three members representing WCU, East Carolina, and Austin Peay. For more information about CoSIDA's Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com on CoSIDA.com.
 
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Western Carolina Baseball, Academic All-District 3 Selections:
2021: Daniel Walsh, Infield
2016: Kramer Ferrell, Outfield
2014: Jacob Hoyle, Infield
2010: Tyler Kirkpatrick, Infield
2008: Tyler Sexton, Pitcher
2007: Tyler Sexton, Pitcher
2002: Ryan Schade, Infield
 
Western Carolina Baseball, Academic All-America Selections:
2002: Ryan Schade, 1st team
1993: Rodney Hennon, 1st team
1992: Jack Kimel, 2nd team
1992: Rodney Hennon, 1st team
1986: David Hyatt, 3rd team
1983: Greg Johnson, 1st team
1983: David Hill, 1st team