For Immediate Release: June 10, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

TWO BRONCS NAMED 2ND TEAM ALL-INDEPENDENT BASEBALL

EDINBURG, TX –Two members of The University of Texas-Pan American’s baseball team have received post-season honors.

Senior pitcher Frank James (Elgin, TX/Elgin HS/Navarro JC) and freshman outfielder John Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS) were named second team All-Independent. The team was chosen by the baseball coaches and sports information directors of ten teams participating as NCAA Division independents this season.

James led the Broncs in starts (15), victories (6), and shutouts (2) in 2002. He finished with a 6-7 record and a 5.44 earned run average, and tied for the staff lead with four complete games. James led the staff with 99 1/3 innings pitched, was second with 18 appearances, and averaged 6 2/3 innings pitched in each of his 15 starts. He shut out Kansas on five hits on March 19th, blanked Houston Baptist on two hits April 13th, and pitched six-innings of two-hit baseball in a combined shutout win against Lamar February 9th. The winning pitcher against 24th-ranked Notre Dame March 10th, James also earned the victory against Illinois February 24th.

Lopez ranked second among Bronc regulars with a .300 batting average, while earning the starting center field position as a freshman. He had a .989 fielding percentage, stole eight bases in 13 attempts, and had ten multiple-hit games. Lopez ranked fifth on the team with 36 hits, tied for fourth with 14 walks, and tied for fifth with 16 runs scored. He had three hits and three runs batted in when UTPA defeated Kansas March 20th, and had three hits and an RBI in 6-4 loss at Texas Tech May 11th.

”It’s a good honor for both of them,” said UTPA Assistant Coach Johnny Johnson. “Frank was probably our most consistent starter this year. He did a good job against some of our best competition, beating Notre Dame and Kansas. John Lopez had a great freshman season, he did a great job in center field and did a good job at the plate and getting on base. We are looking for great things from him in the future.”

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