Kearney, Neb. - Nebraska-Kearney senior shortstop Blake Cover has been named to the 2010 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America baseball team, as selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Finally, a student-athlete has to be named 1st-team Academic All-Region in order to be placed on the Academic All-America ballot.

Becoming UNK's all-time leaders in hits and runs scored this spring, Cover (Kearney Catholic H.S.) maintains a 3.84 cumulative GPA in Business Administration.

He is just the fourth Loper baseball player to be an Academic All-American, joining 1b Jeff McDonald (1991), OF Brad Hiser (1999) and 2b Cody Lusero (2007).

The Academic All-American team is divided into a "University Division", which is for NCAA Division I schools, while the "College Division" is for NCAA Division II & III schools, as well as NAIA institutions.

Of the 34 players on the College Division team, only nine came from Division II schools. Cover was one of two selected from the RMAC, joining Regis catcher Patrick Farrell.

Also on the College Division team, earning 3rd-team honors, was Doane pitcher Dexter Spitsogle, an Odell native.  Nebraska outfielder D.J. Belfonte made the University Division 1st-team as well.

Matt Schuld of Division III St. Thomas (MN) was named the Academic Player of the Year for the College Division.

The complete release is available HERE.