Friday, July 07, 2006

MACON, Ga.- Former Mercer reliever Andrew Urena has been recognized as an All-American as the hard-throwing right-hander was a third-team selection by American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings.

"We are really proud of Andrew and excited for him," said Mercer head coach Craig Gibson. "It is a well-deserved honor. I think it says our program is headed in the right direction when our players are put in the position of earning these honors."

Urena was the lone Atlantic Sun Conference selection and only the second player from the state of Georgia named to the squad, joining catcher Matt Weiters of Georgia Tech, who was named to the second team.

The native of Puerto Rico was 4-2, with a 1.30 ERA and led the Atlantic Sun Conference with 15 saves, finishing the 2006 campaign ranking fourth in the nation. After helping lead the Bears to their first postseason tournament appearance since 1999, he was drafted in the 11th round by the Chicago White Sox and is now playing for the Great Falls (Mont.) White Sox in the Pioneer League.

Urena runs the total of A-Sun players earning All-American recognition from at least one post-season source to three, joining JU's Matt Dobbins and Stetson's Chris Johnson.