Burns Garners CoSIDA ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Honors

MACON, Ga. – Thanks to his accomplishments both on and off the field this season, Mercer baseball sophomore Billy Burns was named to the 2010 CoSIDA ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District III second team on Friday morning.     

The Marietta, Ga. native is majoring in business at Mercer and is one of just five Atlantic Sun players selected by Sports Information Directors in District III, which is comprised of Division I schools from Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

“Billy is such a special kid and I am very happy he received this very meaningful award that shows how hard he works for us both on the field and in the classroom,” head coach Craig Gibson said. “Billy has improved so much in all aspects this year and I am sure this award will just be the first of many to come over his career.”

Burns currently paces the Orange and Black with a .473 on-base percentage, two triples, 27 stolen bases and 13 hit by pitches. The Bears’ center fielder is currently on a 17-game hitting streak and has a .376 batting average for the season.

The CoSida ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District award is one of the most prestigious honors given out for combined excellence both on the field and in the classroom. Burns is the first Bear to receive the honor since John Dortch was selected to the first team in 2008.   

Mercer (28-20, 12-9 A-Sun) is back in action on Tuesday, May 11, when it travels to Charleston, S.C. to take on The Citadel. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Moore-Kittles Field.