Hurricane Floyd
07-24-2002, 10:42 PM
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA (TICKER) -- Wally Pontiff, a third baseman on the Louisiana State baseball team who was drafted by the Oakland Athletics last month, was found dead Wednesday morning. He was 21.
An LSU spokesman did not know the cause of death, but said that Pontiff was found by family members in his home in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans.
"I don't have the words to express the feeling," LSU athletics director Skip Bertman said. "When someone is as talented and popular as Wally, this kind of tragedy affects so many people and it's tough to put into words. His teammates are here and he was everybody's All-American."
Pontiff was a member of the All-Southeastern Conference second team this spring, batting .339 with six homers and 46 RBI. He was drafted by Oakland in the 21st round last month, but said he would return to LSU this fall for his senior season.
An LSU spokesman did not know the cause of death, but said that Pontiff was found by family members in his home in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans.
"I don't have the words to express the feeling," LSU athletics director Skip Bertman said. "When someone is as talented and popular as Wally, this kind of tragedy affects so many people and it's tough to put into words. His teammates are here and he was everybody's All-American."
Pontiff was a member of the All-Southeastern Conference second team this spring, batting .339 with six homers and 46 RBI. He was drafted by Oakland in the 21st round last month, but said he would return to LSU this fall for his senior season.