Lee Chosen Honorable Mention All-America by D3baseball.com

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior left fielder T.C. Lee (Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS) has been named Honorable Mention All-America by D3baseball.com for the 2011 season. Lee was Willamette's leader on offense this season with a .417 batting average, a .785 slugging percentage, 44 runs, 44 RBIs and 12 home runs.

Lee also led the Bearcats with 60 hits, 15 doubles, 113 total bases, a .497 on-base percentage and five sacrifice flies. He was second on the team with nine stolen bases and tied for third with 22 walks. He achieved a .966 fielding percentage in the outfield.

His efforts helped the Bearcats finish the season with a 22-17-1 overall record. The Bearcats were 12-12 in the Northwest Conference.

Lee joined senior shortstop Doug Bloom (Salem, OR/South Salem HS) as the only Willamette players to start all 40 games. Lee registered at least one hit in 34 games this spring, including 23 of the final 26 games. He earned two or more hits 18 times, provided two or more RBIs 12 times and scored two or more runs 11 times in 2011.

He achieved his season-high of four hits in WU's 9-8, 10-inning win over crosstown rival Corban University on April 26 at Volcanoes Stadium. He scored a season-high four runs at Lewis & Clark in an 11-1 win on March 5 and amassed four RBIs at Simpson College (Calif.) in an 11-0 win on Feb. 20.

Single Season Lists

His outstanding season placed Lee third on the Bearcats' single season chart for doubles and placed him fourth in runs, hits, and home runs. His batting average ranked fifth all-time at Willamette and his RBI total was eighth.

This year, Lee topped the Northwest Conference in home runs, slugging percentage and total bases. He tied for first in the NWC with five sacrifice flies. He ranked second in the conference in batting average, runs and RBIs.

He ranked sixth in the nation in NCAA Division III in home runs and was eighth in Division III in home runs per game (0.30) and slugging percentage.

Career Lists

Lee's career statistics moved him into second place all-time at WU with a .368 batting average, 201 hits, 45 doubles and 34 home runs. He ranked fourth in career at bats (546), runs (131) and RBIs (131). He was 10th in walks with 72.

Willamette Career

Throughout his career, Lee hit above the .300 mark, while raising his average every year. He batted .320 as a freshman in 2008, hit .347 in 2009, advanced to a .389 batting average in 2010 and concluded his career by hitting .417 this season. He played in 111 games with 107 starts.

Lee was named First Team All-West Region in NCAA Division III this season by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). He was selected First Team All-Northwest Conference in 2010 and 2011. He was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2009 and was named Second Team All-NWC in 2008.

"T.C. had a great season and deserved being recognized as First Team All-West Region and Honorable Mention All-America," WU Head Coach Aaron Swick said. "His success this year was a direct result of his hard work and preparation. He will go down as one of the best to ever wear a Bearcat uniform."

During Lee's final week of collegiate competition, he was named NWC Hitter Student-Athlete of the Week after batting .529, as Willamette defeated Corban and took two of three games from the University of Puget Sound. Lee hit two doubles and two homers during the week, while achieving at least one hit in all four games.

With 367 teams competing in NCAA Division III, being selected to the D3baseball.com All-America Team is a special honor.

This year, Lee was one of three NWC players chosen for All-America honors. In addition to Lee, other players receiving recognition were center fielder Tim Wilson of Linfield College on the Second Team, and catcher Cole Bixenman, also from Linfield, on the Honorable Mention list.