May 28, 2014
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton University senior Tim Webb (Delaware/Worthington Christian) has been named Third Team Academic All-America by CoSida. Webb, a health and physical education major with a 3.72 GPA, was named First Team Academic All-District which placed him on the ballot for Academic All-America consideration. A four-year starter behind the plate for the Beavers, Webb was also a three-time Academic All-HCAC performer.
He is just the fourth Bluffton athlete, the third in the last four years, and first-ever baseball player to be named Academic All-America. Jenna Eshleman was a First Team volleyball selection in 2011, while Thomas Gingrich (football in 2012) and Sara Betts (softball in 2004) earned Second Team Academic All-America honors. Webb was the only Heartland Conference baseball player to be honored as an Academic All-American this season.
Recently named Third Team All-Mideast Region by the ABCA, Tim Webb put the senior slump theory to rest right away when he finished his final week in Florida with a .387 batting average thanks to 12 hits, including four multi-hit games during the first week of the season. He never slowed down, finishing with a .389 batting average, the seventh-highest average in the Heartland Conference. His 37 RBI were the 9th-highest total in the HCAC and they also placed him 6th all-time for a single season at Bluffton. Webb's .507 slugging percentage placed him 14th in the HCAC, while his .448 on-base percentage was 9th in the conference. He pounded 58 hits in his final season, tied for 5th in the HCAC as well as tied for 9th all-time on Bluffton's single season list. Webb threw out 15 would-be base stealers, tied for 2nd all-time at Bluffton.
Webb left an indelible mark on Bluffton's career record books, both offensively and behind the plate. The four-time All-Heartland Conference selection is 3rd all-time with 46 career doubles and his 180 hits are tied for 4th on the career list. He scored 95 runs (tied for 8th all-time) and his 105 RBI place him in a tie for 5th all-time. Webb is in the top 10 for games played, games started, at bats and total bases. He threw out a school-record 48 would-be base stealers, 20 more than his closest rival, and he also sits at the top of the career lists for putouts (698) and chances (805).
To be nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average at his/her current institution. Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games at the position listed on the nomination form. No student-athlete is eligible until he/she has completed one full calendar year at his/her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility.
-BEAVERS-