Friday, May 6, 2011

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College senior baseball player Rick DeBlasio (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) was named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-District Baseball Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). DeBlasio earned second-team recognition on the all-District 2 College Division.

A political science major with a 3.37 cumulative grade-point average, DeBlasio is the first Titan baseball player since 2003 to earn Academic All-District distinction. He is also the fifth Titan baseball player since 2000 to earn this recognition.

DeBlasio, a 5-foot-9 outfielder, leads Westminster in batting average .451 (37-for-82) and home runs (3). He has also posted 20 runs and 21 RBI in 24 starts and 26 games played.

A second-year starter, DeBlasio helped the Titans tie a school record with the best start in team history at 12-0. DeBlasio was a member of the 2010 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Academic Honor Roll.

The District II College Division consists of all non-NCAA Division I college and universities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. To be nominated for the program, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore with a 3.3 or higher cumulative grade-point average and be a starter or significant reserve.

Westminster (22-11, 9-8 PAC) hosts Grove City today at 3 p.m. at Neshannock High School.

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College ranks first in the nation as "Best College for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math," according to Forbes.com. Westminster is a top tier liberal arts college, a national leader in graduation rate performance, and a "Great School, Great Price," according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster ranked 38th among liberal arts colleges, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 373 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.