In a tremendous display of both the academic and athletic excellence that exemplifies NCAA Division III competition, Linfield outfielder Nick Fisher (Jr., Lake Oswego, Ore.) has been selected as a CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American, just one day removed from helping the Wildcats claim a national championship.

A mathematics major with a 3.83 cumulative grade point average, he becomes just the second CoSIDA Academic All-American in Linfield Baseball history, joining Cole Bixenman (’11). Fisher, who has upped his GPA every semester at Linfield, was one of just two juniors selected to the 11-member CoSIDA Academic All-America Division III Baseball first team, which has maintained an average GPA of 3.79.

“Math teaches you how to solve problems effectively,” said Fisher, who debated between a couple of majors before settling on his field of study. “When it came down to math or business, I figured I could do business with a math degree but not math with a business degree.”

On the field, Fisher started all 50 games for the national champion Wildcats - all but one start in right field - and was among the team’s offensive leaders. Hitting .374 in 190 appearances at the plate, the junior smacked 25 extra-base hits (15 doubles, four triples and six home runs) as part of 71 hits, 47 RBI and 112 total bases.

Fisher also stole 25 bases on the year, second most on the team, and ranked in the top three on Linfield’s championship club for both slugging (.589) and on-base (.443) percentages. Defensively, he registered a .989 fielding percentage over 88 opportunities.

The Lake Oswego, Ore., native was a first team all-Northwest Conference and second team All-West Region honoree, boasted a .700 slugging percentage with two home runs and a double at the Austin Regional and supplied four hits – including a fourth-inning leadoff double that sparked the Linfield offense in the national championship game – at the NCAA Finals.

Fisher helped the Wildcats capture their first NCAA Division III Baseball Championship and third overall national title in baseball, counting two crowns achieved during the NAIA era. Along the way, Linfield set numerous school records, including the most victories (42) and highest fielding percentage (.973) achieved during a single season.

The CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America program honors hundreds of deserving scholar-athletes each year. To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his or her current institution and be nominated by his or her sports information director. First team all-district honorees move on to the national ballot, which is voted upon by the Academic All-America Committee members and current CoSIDA Board of Directors.