From Star Staff Reports

MINNEAPOLIS — Shenandoah University junior Greg Van Sickler has been named preseason All-America by D3baseball.com in selections announced Monday by the Web site.

Van Sickler — a James Wood High School alum who pitches and plays first base — is a first-team selection as a utility player.

He is the first SU player to earn pre-season All-America honors.

Last season Van Sickler led the Hornets to a 38-10 record and a South Region championship by hitting .411 with a school-record 20 doubles and 66 RBI while also going 9-2 with a 2.69 ERA on the mound.

The Hornets began practice this past Friday and open the 2010 season with two games in the USA South/ODAC Challenge on Feb. 13.