AUSTIN, Texas – A quartet of Millsaps baseball student-athletes secured recognition on the 2024 CSC Academic All-District® Baseball Teams for their tremendous accomplishments in the classroom and on the diamond, announced on Tuesday by the College Sports Communications. Senior Jackson Hood, sophomore EJ Ousley, junior Bradley Pelle and graduate student Wil Wood were all recognized from the Millsaps College baseball program.
The 2024 Academic All-District® Baseball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes baseball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
An undergraduate and graduate student-athlete must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale). Additionally, student-athletes must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games/contests played or must start in at least 66 percent of the institution's games/contests. For baseball and softball pitchers, it is 17 appearances or 25 innings pitched.
Hood, a Baton Rouge, La., native graduated with 3.69 cumulative GPA, while majoring in Biology. The right-handed pitcher made 19 appearances, while making one start for the Majors. Hood completed the 2024 season with 31.1 innings pitched and was third on the team with 36 strikeouts. On April 19 against Birmingham-Southern, he recorded a season-high seven strikeouts. To date, Hood is also a three-time SAA Academic Honor Roll student-athlete and plans to return for his graduate season with the Majors.
As a sophomore, Ousley maintained a 3.58 cumulative GPA while majoring in Accounting. The Prattville, Ala., native started in all 41 games for the Majors. The shortstop slashed 30 hits, scored 14 runs and walked 14 times. During the 2024 season, he also recorded 13 RBIs, one triple and three doubles. Ousley finished a perfect 5-for-5 on steal attempts bases. He earned a spot on Club 40 for a perfect 4.0 GPA in the Fall and made the 2023 SAA Spring Academic Honor Roll.
Pelle holds a 3.71 cumulative GPA, hailing from Kenner, La. The Business Administration major started in all 41 games for the Majors. He was second on the team with 31 runs scored, 10 doubles and two home runs. Pelle also took the second spot with 38 hits. Pelle would complete his junior season with 12 RBIs, 21 walks and three triples, finishing 13-for-15 on the base paths. On Feb. 12, he was tabbed the SAA Baseball Player of the Week and made Club 40 after the Fall campaign.
Wood, a star pitcher from Memphis, Tenn., made his second CSC Academic All-District® Baseball Team. The left-hander is obtaining an M.B.A and holds an impressive 3.80 graduate GPA. He was named to the 2024 All-SAA Second Team, D3baseball.com Team of the Week and twice the SAA Baseball Pitcher of the Week.
Wood completed his graduate campaign with a career-high 87 strikeouts and now totals 287 career strikeouts. Wood held his foes to only one home run in 70.1 innings pitched on the mound for the Majors.
He was also praised as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division lll Pitcher of the Month for February after striking out 34 of 64 batters faced, while only walking four batters and allowing seven hits in 18.0 IP. His 1.00 ERA was powered by a 7-inning, 16-strikeout no-hitter. He added a 14-strikeout outing in the same month.
The 2022-23 Sigma Alpha Alpha Honor Society Inductee was previously named the SAA Pitcher of the Week twice, he made the 2022 SAA All-Tournament Team and four times earned All-SAA recognition and earned a spot on the SAA Academic Honor Roll four times to date.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced July 2, 2024.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.
For more information about the CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
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