For the first time in program history, the Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball team had a pitcher earn All-American honors, as Devin Smith was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCWBA) All-America Honorable Mention.
Smith also was named NCBWA Midwest Region First-Team and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Midwest All-Region First Team earlier this week.
Smith is the third player in program history to receive All-American honors behind Jordan White (2012) and Troy Paris (2015).
Smith — the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year — finished the regular season unbeaten, going 8-0 in 11 starts. The junior led the conference in strikeouts, earned run average, opponents’ batting average and hits allowed. Smith accumulated 86 strikeouts in 67.1 innings while allowing 16 runs. His regular season ERA of 1.74 ranked 15th in the nation, while a WHIP of 0.94 ranked 16th.
The Teutopolis, Ill., native recorded at least 10 strikeouts in four outings this year, including 13 against regionally-ranked Malone in the final week of the regular season. The mark was good for third in the Kentucky Wesleyan record books for strikeouts in a single game.
Smith is one of three honorees from the G-MAC to receive NCBWA All-American Honors. Andrew Czech (Ohio Dominican) was named to the First Team while Collin Kaucher (Ohio Dominican) also earned Honorable Mention.
