SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg senior Nate Williams will add another cap to his collection on Saturday, May 18 during Wittenberg's 157th annual commencement ceremonies. Just a week before he dons his mortar board in honor of his years of hard work in the classroom, Williams was honored for his athletic and academic prowess by being named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District IV College Division Baseball First Team.

"Nate is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen, and to see him receive this award, it's just icing on the cake," said Wittenberg Head Baseball Coach Jay Lewis. "It couldn't happen to a better person."

Williams, a history major from Urbana, Ohio, is the catcher on the first team after batting .362 for the 2002 season and compiling a 3.459 grade point average. He was a three-year starter behind the plate for the Tigers, who shared the 2002 North Coast Athletic Conference West Division title with Ohio Wesleyan at 10-2 and finished with a 21-16 overall record.

Williams started all but one of Wittenberg's 37 games in 2002. Along with his batting average, which was sixth-best on the team, Williams finished with two home runs, 32 runs batted in, 17 runs scored, 10 doubles and an outstanding fielding percentage of .987. He made just three errors while handling 226 chances during the season.

Athletes selected to the Academic All-District first-team are eligible for Academic All-America honors. The national award-winners will be announced on June 4.

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