Kansas University senior relief pitcher Don Czyz was named American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-American First Team on Tuesday. Czyz leads the NCAA with 19 saves and finished the 2006 season with a 6-0 record and a 1.56 ERA while striking out 60 batters in 63.1 innings.
Czyz helped guide the Jayhawks (43-25) to their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1993, as well as their first ever Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship. The Overland Park, Kan., native was selected in the 7th round by the Florida Marlins and will begin his professional career for the Jamestown Jammers, the Class A Short Season team of the Marlins.
The ABCA All-America Teams are collegiate baseball’s oldest selections, dating to 1949. All Division I coaches have the opportunity to nominate and vote on these selections, which are initially compiled into eight
All-Region teams. These teams are then finalized as the first, second and third All-America teams by the ABCA’s NCAA Division I All-America and Coach of the Year Committee, chaired by Pat McMahon of the
University of Florida. This year, the committee selected 58 players as 2006 ABCA All-Americans.
This year, Czyz has been named a Pro-Line Cap/NCBWA All-American First Team, a Louisville Slugger All-American First Team, All-Big 12 First Team, Baseball America All-American Second Team and was awarded the NCBWA Stopper of the Year award, given to the NCAA’s best relief pitcher.