For the second consecutive season, Gustavus Adolphus College third baseman Tony Konicek (Sr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo) has been named to the NCAA Division III All-America First Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Konicek was also honored as the Midwest Region Position Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) for the second year in a row.
Konicek, a three-time All-MIAC selection and two-time MIAC Most Valuable Player who made the transition from center field to the hot corner midway through the season, batted .452 with 56 hits, 15 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs, and 55 RBI in 36 games this season. He also scored 38 runs and drew a team-high 20 walks, including five (four intentional) against Hamline April 9. Konicek led Division III this season with an .895 slugging percentage and finished third in RBI per game (1.53).
Konicek claimed the Max Molock MIAC Most Valuable Player award for the second straight season after hitting .535 in conference games and leading the MIAC with 38 hits and 38 RBI. He also added 25 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 12 walks, and posted a league-leading .986 slugging percentage in 20 MIAC games played.
Also a D3baseball.com Second Team All-America and an ABCA First Team All-Midwest Region selection this season, Konicek finished as the Gustavus career leader in batting average (.440), hits (228), triples (12), RBI (178), and runs scored (135, tie) and is second all-time in home runs (31), doubles (53), and at-bats (518). Konicek is Gustavus’ single-season record-holder in at-bats (171 in 2004) and hits (74 in 2004) and has posted the top three marks for RBI (55 in 2007, 54 in 2004, and 48 in 2006).
Konicek is the first multiple-time All-American in Gustavus baseball history. Brad Mazer is the only other Gustie to earn All-America honors (2002). Konicek is also the only first-teamer from the MIAC or the Midwest Region. From the MIAC, St. Olaf’s Andrew Schmiesing and Jay Kasner of Saint John’s were recognized on the second and third teams, respectively.
The Gusties finished 21-15 overall this season and took fourth in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 14-6 mark in league play. Gustavus also took fourth in the MIAC Playoffs with an 0-2 record.