Salem Honored for Academic Achievement by CoSIDA
5/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- University of Alabama junior center fielder Emeel Salem (Mountain Brook) was named first-team Academic All-District for District IV, it was announced Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio make up CoSIDA's fourth district.
Salem carries a 3.9 grade-point-average with a double major in Marketing and Spanish. He is a five-time member of the Dean's List and President's List at Alabama. Salem was also named to the 2004 and 2005 SEC Academic Honor Roll in his first two seasons.
"It's exciting to be honored for something other than baseball," Salem said. "My school work is a huge time commitment, just like baseball. I take academics very seriously."
By earning a spot on the all-district team, Salem is eligible for Academic All-America honors. Voting for that begins on May 16.
Salem was also named to the Brooks Wallace Award Player of the Year Watch List on Thursday afternoon by the College Baseball Foundation.
The Wallace Watch List will be trimmed again in the semi-final round on Sunday, May 21. The selection committee will narrow the list to three finalists following the NCAA Super Regionals and make that announcement on Thursday, June 15 at the College World Series in Omaha.
Salem has started all 50 games for Alabama and is the Tide's leading hitter with a .369 (79-for-214) average with two home runs and 23 RBI. He leads the SEC with 73 total hits. He also paces the conference in at-bats (214), stolen bases (28) and stole base attempts (35).
"This is definitely surprising," Salem added. "It is very exciting to be in good company with the players in college baseball."
