Wilhelm was selected as one of two NCAA Division III baseball players from the entire nation to participate in the first NCAA Home Run Challenge presented by Rawlings. The competition will be part of the opening ceremonies on Thursday, June 8, for the NCAA Division I Men's College World Series held at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska.
Wilhelm and Jason Bischoff of Marian College in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin will participate along with six other senior baseball players - four from Division I and two from Division II. Total home runs for the season and the average of home runs hit per game were used to select the eight participants.
Wilhelm hit 11 homers this season as a Little Giant, setting the school record. His 11 long balls gave him a career total of 23, topping the Wabash record book for home runs in a career. He had tied the record for home runs in a season in 1998 when he hit six homers. His increase in power this season did not hurt him at the plate, where he led the Little Giant team in batting with a .357 average. A member of the North Coast Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team, he averaged 0.33 home runs per game in 2000.
"I'm thrilled to be a part of the Home Run Challenge," said Wilhelm. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to travel to Omaha and hit in one of the most beautiful stadiums in baseball."
Wabash baseball coach Bill Boone was not surprised by Wilhelm's increase in home runs or by his ability to maintain his batting average.
"Matt's one of those players that every coach would love to have on his team," said Boone. "He has the capability to hit the ball out of the park at any time. His freshman year we saw his ability and had to find a place for him to play. Our coaching staff played Matt at four different positions, including catcher, to keep his bat in the lineup. His ability on the football field and baseball field shows the type of athlete that he is."
Wilhelm and the other participants will receive hitting tips form Major League Baseball standouts Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson, and Ted Sizemore. The four veteran players will also participate in the new conference following the event with the winner of the Home Run Challenge.
The competition will consist of three rounds, with all eight players competing against one another in two groups of four players. Each player will hit until he records 10 "outs," with anything that is not a home run constituting an "out." The four players with the most home runs in round one will advance to the second round, competing in two groups of two players. The top two hitters will advance to the final round, competing head-to-head. The winner receives a Compaq personal computer, a 4-day, 3-night trip for two, courtesy of Continental Airlines and Marriott Hotels, and the equivalent of a two-year Rawlings minor-league apparel and equipment contract. Each player's school also receives a $1,000 scholarship from Rawlings.
Additional information regarding the NCAA Home Run Challenge can be found at the following websites:
www.ncaabaseball.com www.rawlings.com