UIC's Mark Hallberg Named To 2005 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Baseball Team

June 9, 2005

Chicago, Ill. - Collegiate Baseball announced on Wednesday afternoon, that University of Illinois at Chicago first baseman Mark Hallberg (Barron, Wis./Barron) has been named to the 2005 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team.

Hallberg's selection marks the fourth-straight season that UIC has had a player named to the team, joining pitchers Ryan Zink (2004), Ryan Martin (2003) and Ryan Gehring (2002).

This marks Hallberg's third post-season award of the campaign, as the Barron, Wis., native was also named to the All-Horizon League First Team, as well as the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team.

The rookie first baseman enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in school history, rapping out 84 hits and finishing with a .354 batting average. Those 84 base-knocks were good for second in school-history for a single-season and the most ever by a freshman.

Hallberg also enjoyed a team-season best 23-game hitting streak, and is currently the 4th-hardest batter to strike out in the nation, fanning just once every 21.5 at-bats.