Braun, Cockroft Named to NBCWA All-America List

June 10, 2003

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced its 13th annual 2003 All-America Division I baseball teams on Tuesday with Miami’s Ryan Braun honored as the second team shortstop and J.D. Cockroft on the third team as a pitcher.

Braun, a freshman from Granada Hills, Calif., was a second team choice after hitting .374 with 17 home runs and UM-freshman record 74 RBIs. Braun was clutch all year long for the Hurricanes, leading the team with 12 game-winning hits, including a walk-off home run to beat North Carolina State in game one of the super regional.

Cockroft entered his junior year as a setup man and a closer, but moved into the starting rotation after Dan Touchet underwent Tommy John surgery in early March. Cockroft finished the season with an 11-2 record and a 2.65 ERA in a team-high 115.2 innings of work.

Cockroft and Braun will lead the Hurricanes into College World Series action on Saturday, June 14, in Omaha against the defending national champion Texas Longhorns at 7:05 p.m. on ESPN.

Fans and media are also welcome to come out at 3 p.m. on Wednesday to see the Hurricanes off, as they leave for Omaha in search of their fifth national championship.