Gustavus Adolphus outfielder Tony Konicek (Rochester, Minn. / Mayo) has been named to the Rawlings/NCAA Division III All-America First Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Konicek is Gustavus’ second All-American in baseball and the first to be named to the first team. Brad Mazer was named to the second team as a catcher in 2002. Konicek was also a First Team All-Midwest Region selection by the ABCA.
Konicek, a junior, also received the Max Molock Award as the MIAC’s Most Valuable Player after leading the league in batting average (.484), hits (59), doubles (16), home runs (8), runs batted in (48) and total bases (101). Konicek made only one error in 88 chances. Konicek’s batting average, which ranked fourth in all of Division III in 2006, is the third highest single-season average in team history, while his RBI total of 48 ranks second-best all-time. Konicek was also ranked nationally in slugging percentage (seventh, .828), runs batted in per game (tenth, 1.41), doubles per game (24th, 0.47) and home runs per game (46th, 0.24). Konicek, who posted a .519 on base percentage, was equally adept at getting rallies started and keeping them going, hitting .688 (11-16) as the first batter in the inning, .500 (35-70) with runners on base and .596 (28-47) with two outs on the board. Konicek recorded 22 two-out RBI and left only 12 stranded in over 125 plate appearances.
St. Olaf freshman pitcher Todd Mathison was the only other Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player to receive All-America honors. Mathison was named to the third team.
Konicek, an accounting major, is the son of Tamara Konicek of Rochester and a 2003 graduate of Mayo High School.