December 17, 1998

LUBBOCK, Texas - Two Texas Tech baseball players- pitcher Shane Wright and catcher Josh Bard both were selected preseason All America players by Collegiate Baseball, the magazine announced Thursday. Wright (Topeka, Kansas) was named to the preseason All America First Team while Bard (Englewood, Colo.) was selected to the All America Second Team.

Wright, a conensus 1998 First Team All America, finished last year with a 14-1 record and led the nation in complete games (13) and innings pitched (152.2). He finished with a 2.71 earned run average, struck out 116 batters and walked only 20 batters.

Bard, also a consensus 1998 First Team All America, batted. 383 (101-264) with 56 runs scored, 22 doubles and 17 home runs. He also drove in 71 runs and finished the season with a .674 slugging percentage. He also did the job on defense as the switchhitter committed only seven errors on the season and ended with a .987 fielding percentage.

Texas Tech was also ranked No. 13 in the nation in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll.