Baseball

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Former Plainsmen Catcher DII Player of the Year (PHOTO BY: Eddie Sherrer)

Former Plainsmen, Chad Jacobsen, named Division II National Player of the Year

June 2, 2008

AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken's Chad Jacobsen has been selected as the Daktronics 2008 Division II National Player of the Year as well as earning a spot on the All-America First-Team by all three postseason groups: Daktronics, the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). The Daktronics selections were made by members of the Division II College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). 

Jacobsen becomes the program's first-ever National Player of the Year in the school's NCAA era, while joining Wayne Slocum (1985) as the only players to capture that honor in the program's 36-year history. The senior first baseman was a Third-Team All-American (NCBWA) in 2007, thus joining Ashley Farr (2002, 2003) as USC Aiken's only two-time NCAA All-Americans.

Senior pitcher Peden Rucker received Honorable Mention All-American status by the NCBWA, raising the program's total to 26 All-Americans since 1983.

To be eligible for one of the first, second, or third teams, a player had to earn First-Team All-Region honors. The Peach Belt Conference had three All-American selections on each of the Daktronics and NCWBA teams while placing five on the ABCA list.

In joining Farr (2003) as the school's only ABCA Region Player of the Year, Jacobsen turned in a phenomenal, record-setting senior campaign. The 6-1 native of Littleton, Colo. shattered nine single season school records in addition to becoming the program's all-time leader in career slugging percentage (.710). With 108 hits in 2008, he not only broke Farr's school mark of 100, but set a new Peach Belt Conference record as well.

Jacobsen led the PBC in eight offensive categories and finished second in three more. Hitting .439 with 21 doubles, two triples, and 22 home runs, Jacobsen drove in 80 RBI and scored 81 runs, slugging .809 and posting a .545 on-base percentage with 57 walks. He ranks in the top three of Division II in five statistical categories and is in the top 10 of four more.

Twice an All-Conference and All-Region selection, Jacobsen was a two-time PBC Player of the Week honoree in 2008 and became the program's third PBC Player of the Year. He was also selected as the Region Player of the Year by Daktronics and the NCBWA.