May 28, 1998

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Stanford pitcher Jeff Austin had to listen to his answering machine over and over before it sunk in that he was Baseball America's college player of the year.

"I played the message two or three times before I could believe it," Austin said Thursday. "I was surprised. I didn't keep up with the news going on out there. I was just playing and concentrating on what I needed to do."

Austin, a junior who went 12-3 and posted a 3.11 ERA, started 18 games, completing eight. He recorded 136 strikeouts in 133 innings, allowed 118 hits and issued only 32 walks.

While he said he was honored to receive the award, Austin said he was frustrated that his Stanford team didn't make it to the College World Series. The Cardinal was a consensus No. 1 much of the season but lost in the West regional.

"I wish I could have received this award with my team here," he said. "My teammates were obviously a big part of this."

A native of Kingswood, Texas, Austin was a reliever last season but stepped into the starting void left by Kyle Peterson, a first-round pick last year by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Also named to Baseball America's first team was Florida outfielder and pitcher Brad Wilkerson, a holdover from the magazine's 1997 team.

LSU first baseman Eddy Furniss, Tennessee second baseman Jeff Pickler, Miami third baseman Aubrey Huff and South Carolina shortstop Adam Everett formed the first-team infield.

Besides Austin, the starting pitchers included Miami's Alex Santos and South Alabama's Mike Fischer. Josh Fogg of Florida was the closer.

Sammy Serrano of Stetson was the first-team catcher and Damon Thames of Rice was the designated hitter. Outfielders Eric Valent of UCLA, Bubba Crosby of Rice and Mike Curry of South Carolina completed the squad.