2023 RMAC Baseball All-Academic Teams

COLORADO SPRINGS – The Colorado School of Mines Baseball trio of Luke Folsom, Adam Houghtaling, and Kevin Zapanta earned RMAC First-Team All-Academic distinction on Thursday afternoon as the league office unveiled its 2023 academic baseball squads.
 
Mines' three first-team selections to the 11-man squad led the entire conference, and mark the first-ever, top-team honors for Folsom, Houghtaling, and Zapanta. The Orediggers also placed 13 individuals on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll. Folsom, Houghtaling and Zapanta were voted to the first team by the league's sports information directors. Criteria to earn RMAC First-Team All-Academic accolades require student-athletes to carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or better while also providing outstanding performance in competition. Nominations also required completion of two consecutive semesters at their institution while using a season of eligibility as well. Harrison Rodgers of Colorado Mesa was named RMAC Baseball Academic Player of the Year as the top vote getter.
 
The Oredigger honor roll members included Mason Andrews, Jackson Bakovich, Chandler Cole, Carter Gorling, I-Ly Hsue, Collin Kringlen, Marcus Lee, Blake Ripp, Nic Roma, Weston Siefken, Brady Veltien, Ryan Vermeer, and Jackson Woolwine. Those on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll were required to carry a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better as well as completion of two consecutive semesters at their institution while using a season of eligibility.
 
Folsom's RMAC First-Team All-Academic award comes in his second season of eligibility. He was on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll in 2022 while also earning CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-America distinction. As junior in mechanical engineering he boasts a 3.67 GPA. In 2023, Folsom has continued his role as the ultimate utility player with appearances at the plate and on the mound. He is 2-4 in eight starts as a pitcher with 30 strikeouts compared to 12 walks in 37.2 innings resulting in an 8.12 ERA. At the plate, the Littleton, Colo., native is hitting .208 with 16 runs on 16 hits including three doubles and one home run with 12 RBI. Earlier this season, Folsom was voted Preseason First-Team All-America at designated hitter by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association (NCBWA).
 
Houghtaling's selection as RMAC First-Team All-Academic also comes in his second season of eligibility after the redshirt senior transferred to Mines from San Jacinto College in 2021. Like Folsom, he was also RMAC Academic Honor Roll in 2022, and currently owns a 3.88 GPA as an electrical engineering major. Houghtaling's 2023 resume features a .340 batting average with 28 runs on 49 hits including 20 doubles, one triple, and four home runs with 32 RBI. He hit for the cycle at Colorado Christian on March 10 and currently ranks #4 in the nation in doubles per game while sitting #8 in total doubles. He was a NCBWA Preseason Second-Team All-American as well and has started every game at first base this season.
 
Zapanta earned RMAC First-Team All-Academic after appearing on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll in 2020, 2021, and 2022. He earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 2022 with a 3.67 GPA. The graduate student is currently pursuing his master's degree in engineering & technology management and holds a 3.74 GPA for a combined GPA of 3.68. So far in 2023, the right-handed starting pitcher has produced a record of 3-3 in nine starts, striking out 56 batters and walking just 15 in 50.0 innings of work. His 3.24 ERA leads all qualifying pitchers in the conference. Zapanta's 164 career strikeouts put him #7 in the program record book.
 
Mines closes the home portion of its 2023 schedule this weekend against MSU Denver. The four-game, RMAC series starts Friday at 6 p.m. Saturday features a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. with Senior Day ceremonies before the game. Sunday brings the 2023 home finale at 12 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. Live stats and video will be offered at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can follow Mines baseball on Twitter at @OrediggersBSB. They can also follow all Oredigger programs on Twitter at @MinesAthletics and online at www.minesathletics.com.