Kansas City, Mo. - The Missouri Southern baseball program had 9 players earn All-MIAA honors as announced by the conference office on Thursday, May 2.

This season the Lions are 37-13 (24-9 MIAA), earning the second seed in the upcoming MIAA Tournament. In the latest NCAA regionally ranked announcement, the program was the number two seed in the central region and was ranked 10th in the latest NCBWA poll.

Cole Gayman was named a first-team starting pitcher, his second career All-MIAA distinction as he was a third-team selection last year. The junior right hander from Webb City, Missouri compiled a 9-2 record on the season, recording an ERA of 2.49 and a 1.12 WHIP. He struck out 80 batters over 79.2 innings, holding opposing batters to a .191 batting average. In the MIAA standings, Gayman led the conference in ERA, opposing batting average, innings pitched, runs allowed, earned runs allowed, and batters struck out looking. He ranked second in batters struck out and wins. Throughout the season, Gayman was named NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week, a two time NCBWA Regional Pitcher of the Week, and a five time MIAA Pitcher of the Week. 

Henry Kusiak was also a first-team selection at shortstop and Gold Glove winner, his fourth career All-MIAA distinction and second career Gold Glove. The senior from Round Lake, Illinois is hitting .391 with 66 runs scored, 75 hits, 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 3 triples, 55 RBI, and 39 walks drawn. His slugging percentage is .714 and he has a .516 on-base percentage. Defensively, Kusiak has a .985 fielding percentage, recording 131 assists and 68 putouts, helping turn 25 double plays this season. Kusiak was named MIAA Hitter of the Week twice this season, and has broken five records this year, becoming the program's sole leader in career runs batted in, career hits, total bases, at-bats, and extra base hits. Additionally, he became the first ever Lion with 300 hits in a career and one of two Lions to hit 50 home runs. He is nearing the MIAA hits and at-bats records, also coming up on MSSU's games played and doubles records. 

Drew Townsend was a second-team utility player, earning All-MIAA honors his first year on the team. The junior from Kansas City, Missouri started all 50 games in the regular season, a majority of those being in the outfield but also played contests at first base. On the season, Townsend is hitting .309 with 58 hits, 9 being doubles, 11 home runs, and 1 triple for a slugging percentage of .543. He leads all of NCAA Division II with 52 walks, recording a .468 on-base percentage. As the leadoff hitter, Townsend has scored 62 runs, driving in 35 as well. 

Will Doherty was a third-team selection at third base, his first career All-MIAA distinction. The redshirt sophomore from St. Louis, Missouri started all 50 games for the Lions at third base. His 77 hits was the most in the MIAA this year, 13th in all of NCAA Division II. At the plate, Doherty recorded a .379 average with 61 RBI, hitting 19 doubles, 10 home runs, and 2 triples for a .640 slugging percentage. 

Five Lions were selected as honorable mentions, Trent Harris, Kyle Moore, Garrett Rice, Ethan Clark, and Treghan Parker. As a starting pitcher, Trent Harris finished the year with a 5-0 record, striking out 61 batters over 59.1 innings, holding opposing batters to a .255 average. Kyle Moore pitched 39.0 innings in relief, going 3-2 with 5 saves on the season. He struck out 35 and finished with a 4.85 ERA. Garrett Rice hit .318 over 43 games played, driving in 52 runs on 49 hits. Of those hits, 13 were doubles, 9 home runs, and 1 triple for a .591 slugging percentage. He was an MIAA Hitter of the Week, and also tied MSSU's single game home run record (3). Ethan Clark recorded a .337 batting average with 63 hits, 17 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run, and 38 RBI. Additionally, Clark drew 29 walks for a .437 on-base percentage. Treghan Parker started all 45 games he appeared in this season, hitting .280 on the year. He has 47 hits this year, 11 being doubles, 5 home runs, and 2 triples with 41 RBI.

Below are the complete All-MIAA teams as announced by the conference office.

2024 MIAA Baseball Postseason Awards and All-MIAA Teams
Player of the Year – Brennan van Breusegen – Central Missouri
Pitcher of the Year – Conner Wolf – Central Missouri
Co-Freshman of the Year – Logan Myers – Emporia State
Co-Freshman of the Year – Jack Scott – Central Missouri
Coach of the Year – Kyle Crookes – Central Missouri

FIRST TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Cole Gayman – Missouri Southern
Starting Pitcher: Ty Riley – Fort Hays State
Starting Pitcher: Conner Wolf – Central Missouri
Relief Pitcher: Valek Cisneros – Central Oklahoma
Catcher: Chase Heath – Central Missouri
First Base: Josh Patrick – Central Missouri
Second Base: Tyson Fourkiller – Northeastern State
Shortstop: Max Holy – Central Missouri^
Shortstop: Henry Kusiak – Missouri Southern^
Third Base: Dylan Kurahahi Choy Foo – Pittsburg State
Outfield: Payton McHarg – Washburn
Outfield: Brennan van Breusegen – Central Missouri
Outfield: Carter Young – Central Missouri
Designated Hitter: Vance Tobol – Central Missouri
Utility: Cash Jay – Washburn  
^Reflects Ties In Voting
 
SECOND TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Jacob Wilson – Central Missouri
Starting Pitcher: Brett Pense – Central Oklahoma
Starting Pitcher: Tanner Leslie – Pittsburg State
Relief Pitcher: Boston Dowd – Pittsburg State
Catcher: Nixon Brannan – Pittsburg State
First Base: Cale Savage - Washburn
Second Base: Cole Moore – Central Missouri
Shortstop: Jett Buck – Washburn
Third Base: Jacob Steele – Central Missouri
Outfield: Carson Carpenter – Central Oklahoma^
Outfield: Kaleb Glass – Central Oklahoma^
Outfield: Ryan Koval – Missouri Western^
Outfield: Jack Schark – Central Missouri^
Designated Hitter: Caden Robertson – Central Oklahoma
Utility: Drew Townsend – Missouri Southern
^Reflects Ties In Voting
 
THIRD TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Jack Scott – Central Missouri
Starting Pitcher: Dax Sharp – Central Oklahoma
Starting Pitcher: C.J. Briley – Northeastern State
Starting Pitcher: Casey Stalzer – Northwest Missouri
Starting Pitcher: Brady Gilmore – Central Oklahoma
Relief Pitcher: Jacob Gajic – Northwest Missouri^
Relief Pitcher: Landon Riley – Rogers State^
Catcher: Gage Williams – Northeastern State^
Catcher: Hayden Priest - Washburn^
First Base: Elliott Herrmann – Fort Hays State
Second Base: Deagan Brady – Pittsburg State
Shortstop: Orlando Gonzalez – Central Oklahoma
Third Base: Will Doherty – Missouri Southern
Outfield: Brady Kreutzer – Fort Hays State
Outfield: Isaiah Ural – Fort Hays State
Outfield: Isaiah Keller – Northeastern State
Designated Hitter: Trey Morris – Northwest Missouri
Utility: Ryan Williams – Northwest Missouri
^Reflects Ties In Voting

GOLD GLOVE TEAM
Pitcher: Conner Wolf – Central Missouri
Catcher: Chase Heath – Central Missouri
First Base: Elliott Herrmann – Fort Hays State
Second Base: Cole Moore – Central Missouri*
Shortstop: Orlando Gonzalez – Central Oklahoma^
Shortstop: Henry Kusiak – Missouri Southern^
Third Base: Trey DeGarmo – Fort Hays State
Outfield: Brennan van Breusegen – Central Missouri*
Outfield: Connor Scott - Washburn
Outfield: Carter Young – Central Missouri
^Reflects Ties In Voting
*Unanimous Selection
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Harrison Babbitt (Relief Pitcher)

Emporia State: Cade Barton (Starting Pitcher), Graham Brunner (Starting Pitcher), Kadyn Williams (Third Base)

Fort Hays State: Rafael Espinoza (Starting Pitcher)

Missouri Southern: Trent Harris (Starting Pitcher), Kyle Moore (Relief Pitcher), Garrett Rice (First Base), Ethan Clark (Outfield), Treghan Parker (Outfield)

Missouri Western: Robert Farrell (Relief Pitcher)

Newman: Blake Mitchell (Outfield)

Northwest Missouri: Cole Slibowski (Second Base), Caden Diel (Outfield)

Pittsburg State: Brady Pacha (Starting Pitcher), Cade Clemens (Shortstop), Josh Holmes (Outfield), Blaze Mozley (Designated Hitter)

Rogers State: Colton Anderson (Starting Pitcher), Matthew Delgado (Catcher), AJ Folds (Outfield)

Washburn: Cooper Carlgren (Starting Pitcher), Griffin Huiatt (Relief Pitcher), Cal Watkins (Second Base), Connor Scott (Outfield)