WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - Eastern Connecticut State University senior  baseball player Tristan Hobbes (Utica, N.Y.) has been recognized for four years of academic and athletic success by becoming the institution's first-ever ESPN The Magazine/College Division Academic All-America, announced today. Hobbes was a first-team choice to the team, which is co-sponsored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

All first-team all-district winners were eligible for national consideration. Hobbes was a three-time, first-team member of the College Division District 1 team, which is comprised of Division II and III student-athletes from institutions located in New England and New York.

A first baseman, Hobbes was a four-year member of the Eastern baseball team who graduated this past Sunday with a degree in Communication and a minor in Sport and Leisure Management.

"This is a very deserving honor and  is a fitting end to his career at Eastern," noted head baseball coach Bill Holowaty of his 2009 team co-captain. "His accomplishments in the classroom and on the baseball field speak for themselves.  He's just a good, all-around kid - everyone likes and respects him. He's earned respect by his actions on and off the field and has been a great example for future ballplayers here."

A total of 34 student-athletes were honored as academic All-America. Eleven individuals comprised the first and third teams and 12 were named to the second team. Hobbes was one of only two selections from New England, having been joined by MIT senior infielder Thomas Phillips, a second-team selection from Durham, N.C.

Hobbes became the baseball program's first academic all-district choice ever two years ago in his first year of eligibility and has followed that up by repeating the honor each of the last two years.

"The thing that I am most proud of is that I haven't (promoted) him (for these kinds of awards)," said Holowaty. "Other people have pushed him, and when that happens, you know as a student-athlete, that you've been doing something right."

Hobbes carried an overall 3.82 grade-point average through the fall semester He was been a member of the Dean's List (3.50+) in seven of his eight semesters at Eastern and is a member of the Communication honor society.

As an undergraduate, Hobbes has received numerous awards and citations for academic and extracurricular activities. He earned an Eastern/E-Club Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award  (cumulative 3.50 GPA) and also qualified for a spot on the the Little East Conference baseball academic honor roll in each of his two seasons of eligibility for those awards.This past spring, he received the prestigious Connecticut State University System Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award. For that award, nominees must have a minimum cumulative 3.75 GPA and have exhibited a record of significant community service.

In addition to his academic accomplishments, Hobbes has served as the president of Eastern's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two years, has been Eastern's representative to the Little East Conference SAAC, has been active as a play-by-play and color commentator for a variety of the department's internet broadcasts the last two seasons, and has hosted a weekly sports radio show dedicated to campus events.

Hobbes is also a finalist for the Jim McKay Scholarship --  a $10,000 scholarship presented by the NCAA to one male and one female student-athlete in recognition of  outstanding academic achievement and potential to make a major contribution in the sports communication industry.  

This past spring, Hobbes  was awarded the prestigious Francis E. Geissler Senior Male SportsPerson-of-the-Year Award, which rewards one male student-athlete for team spirit, dedication, integrity, sportsmanship, and leadership.

A first baseman, the left-handed hitting Hobbes was named second-team all-conference and a member of this year's conference tournament championship team and NCAA qualifier. He batted .331 in 42 games, with six home runs, 32 RBI and 72 total bases and fielded .987. The Warriors won 39 and lost 8 and were ranked first nationally in Division III after winning their first 13 games.

A first-team All-New England selection as a sophomore in 2007, Hobbes was a member of two regional championship teams in his career. He batted .330 with 175 hits, 12 home runs, 122 RBI and a .986 fielding average.

Hobbes was a 2005 graduate of  Notre Dame High School in Utica. As a senior captain in baseball, he was named first-team all-state and Tri-Valley League Player-of-the-Year and led his team to the New York state championship

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