Aug. 4, 2003
FAIRFAX, VA ... Several George Mason individuals and the Patriot team as a whole are ranked highly in several categories in the final NCAA Division I baseball statistics for 2003.
As a team, George Mason was ranked 26th in the nation with a .970 fielding percentage to lead all teams in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Patriots set school records for fielding percentage, surpassing the previous best mark of .959 in 1993, and for fewest errors with 59, besting the record of 63 in 1981.
Mason also finished in the top 20 percent of the 283 Division I teams by ranking 44th in the nation for doubles per game, tying with William & Mary for second in the CAA with 2.14 per contest (UNC Wilmington led the league and was 38th in the nation with 2.17 per game). The Patriots had 109 doubles in 51 games.
Individually, sophomore center fielder Matt Cooksey finished the season ranked fourth in the nation for walks per game, averaging 0.98 (44 in 45 games) per contest to lead the CAA in per-game average and in total walks. Cooksey (Bowie, MD/St. John's College High School) also was ranked at different times during the season for triples per game, but was not among the top 75 in the final rankings. He concluded the season batting .255 with nine doubles, five triples (leading the CAA), one home run, 14 runs batted in and 18 stolen bases.
Other individuals among the national leaders included junior third baseman Nick Shimer (Clifton, VA/Robinson HS) and junior first baseman Chris Looze (Amherst, MA/Amherst Regional HS/South Florida CC). Shimer was 50th in the nation for doubles per game, averaging 0.38 (19 in 50 games) per contest, while Looze was 35th for home runs per game, averaging 0.29 (15 in 51 games) per contest, and 61st for RBI per game, averaging 1.1 (56 in 51 games) per contest.
Shimer finished the season second on the Patriots with a .349 average and added a team-high 19 doubles, two triples, nine home runs (second) and 41 RBI (third). Looze led George Mason with 15 homers and 56 RBI, was third with a .343 average and tied for third with 13 doubles.
"The fact that several individuals, as well as the overall team, are ranked in the final NCAA statistics is a testament to hard work and dedication," said Patriot head coach Bill Brown, who has an overall record of 602-553-5 in 22 seasons at George Mason. "The statistics reflect a commitment to excellence in our program."
George Mason completed the 2003 season with a 31-20 overall record and a 9-8 mark in the CAA. It was the first time the Patriots posted 30 wins since 1999, and they overcame being the No. 6 seed in the OBX/CAA Baseball Championship to win three games in the tournament and advance to the championship round for the first time since 1993.
