After putting in a lot of hard work on the field and in the classroom, Illinois State baseball senior Brandon Gale and junior Chris Frank were named to the 2005 Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team. The former Olympia High School teammates were honorable mention selections.
The MVC sets the criteria for nominees for scholar-athletes. The nominees must be starters or important reserves, with at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average. The nominees must also have attained sophomore athletic and academic standing at their school and completed at least one full academic year there.
Gale, an Armington, Ill., native, was 2-4 with a 4.93 ERA in 2005 for the Redbirds. He led pitchers on the squad in appearances with 24 and was third in strikeouts with 39 in his senior season. In his second year at ISU, Gale led the Redbird squad with 3.76 cumulative GPA.
Head coach Jim Brownlee was not surprised by Gales selection.
Brandon is the epitome of a student-athlete, said Brownlee. I wish I would have had him for four years instead of just two. He became a solid pitcher for us out of the bullpen and we will miss him.
Frank is right behind though with a 3.64 cumulative GPA. The Minier, Ill., native started 42 games in the outfield for the Redbirds in 2005, splitting time in left field and center field. The Illinois Central Community College transfer also contributed at the plate, batting .280 on the season with 44 hits and 16 RBIs in his first season at ISU.
After making the team as a walk-on, Frank showed Brownlee and the coaching staff what he was made of.
Chris is a very mature individual and knows how to take care of his business on and off the field, said Brownlee. I dont know what his thoughts were coming on as a walk-on, but he worked hard and earned an everyday spot in the outfield for us.
I say that when you overachieve in the classroom, then you will overachieve on the field, and vice versa, stated Brownlee. Both of these players have overachieved in both places and have earned this recognition.
A total of 39 student-athletes were nominated for the scholar-athlete team, with 29 receiving recognition from the Valley for their athletic and academic achievements.
