RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University senior righthanded pitcher Eric Bess of Brooksville has been named to the 1999 Baseball GTE Academic All-District Team for District IV as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Bess, who stands 7-5 on the season, has compiled a 3.73 GPA in Business Management and has been selected to the GTE Academic All-District Team for the second straight year.

"We're proud of Eric's academic accomplishments as he pursued his degree and the contributions he has made to our baseball team during his career," said EKU head baseball coach Jim Ward. "This honor is well-deserved because of the commitment he has made to academics while playing baseball."

Bess is tied for third in victories this season in the Ohio Valley Conference with seven wins and is 4-2 in OVC competition in 1999. He is expected to start Sunday's regular season finale against Middle Tennessee at EKU's Turkey Hughes Field.

Bess is 21-15 on the mound in his four-year career at Eastern with a 6.28 ERA. He pitched a three-hitter earlier this season vs. UT Martin. A four-year letterman at EKU, Bess was 9-4 as a junior, including 7-1 vs. OVC foes.

In order to be eligible for Academic All-America honors, an athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale), must be a starter or important reserve and be in at least their second season at their current school. Freshmen are not eligible.

District IV includes all schools within the states of Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Michigan.

The names of the 11 GTE Academic All-District athletes will appear on the GTE Academic All-America national ballot. The national Academic All-America Baseball Team will be announced June 1.