Complete District V team
CHARLESTON, Ill. – For his flawless 4.0 grade point average and stellar relief work this season, Eastern Illinois baseball’s
Brian Morrell has been named Academic All-District V by
ESPN the Magazine.
The junior right-hander has posted a 4.0 for six consecutive semesters after finishing off the recently completed spring semester with another perfect mark. The Quincy native is a biological sciences major. With only one team selected from District V, he is automatically placed on the ballot from which Academic All-Americas are chosen.
On the field, Morrell leads the Ohio Valley Conference in ERA (0.36) in league play this week (May 5-11). For the entire season, he has compiled a 3-1 record and 3.48 ERA in 41 1/3 innings pitched. He has surrendered only four extra-base hits while holding opposing batters to a .232 average.
Morrell has been the key EIU pitcher in three conference wins this season. He did not allow an earned run over 4 2/3 innings of relief in the rubber game victory at Murray State. Against league-leading Jacksonville State, he took over after a two-hour rain delay and limited JSU to three hits over seven innings. He again pitched seven innings of stellar relief Sunday against Southeast Missouri, setting the stage for EIU’s walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth. He struck out a career-high eight vs. SEMO.
The Akron game on the spring break trip was his only starting assignment this season. Morrell surrendered seven earned runs over 2 1/3 innings that afternoon. However, in his 17 relief appearances this year he has registered a 3-0 record and 2.08 ERA while striking out 33 over 39 innings. His batting average against as strictly a reliever also drops to .199.
Morrell follows in the footsteps of former teammate Erik Huber as an Academic All-District selection. Huber received the distinction in each of his upperclassman seasons (2006-07) en route to becoming the program’s first Academic All-America honoree a year ago.
Nominated and selected by members of College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), District V encompasses universities based in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as Manitoba and Ontario. To qualify for the ballot, a student-athlete must hold at least sophomore status, carry a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA and be a key contributor to his or her team.
Morrell and the Panthers return to action Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Austin Peay.
More Info: Contact
Ben Turner, Asst. SID
District 5 Winners
|
University Division
|
FIRST TEAM
|
| Pitcher |
Eitan Barbalat |
BRADLEY UNIVERSITY |
V |
Sr. |
Thornhill, Ontario |
4.00 |
Cell and Molecular Biology |
| Pitcher |
Brian Morrell |
EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY |
V |
Jr. |
Quincy, Ill. |
4.00 |
Biological Sciences |
| Catcher |
Sean Gaston |
NOTRE DAME, UNIVERSITY OF |
V |
Gr. |
Brownsburg, Ind. |
3.40, 1st semester grad |
Political Science and History |
| Infield |
Brett Lilley |
NOTRE DAME, UNIVERSITY OF |
V |
Sr. |
North Canton, Ohio |
3.74 |
Accounting; Now in masters program (MSA). |
| Infield |
Ryan Hastings |
ILLINOIS, UNIVERSITY OF |
V |
Gr. |
Mattoon, Ill. |
3.45, 4.0 (grad) |
Recreation, sport and tourism |
| Infield |
Tom Steidl |
MINNESOTA, UNIVERSITY OF |
V |
Sr. |
Alexandria, Minn. |
3.54 |
Communication Studies |
| Infield |
Jake Goebbert |
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY |
V |
So. |
Hampshire, Ill. |
3.28 |
Psychology |
| Outfield |
Matt Nohelty |
MINNESOTA, UNIVERSITY OF |
V |
Jr. |
Rothschild, Wis. |
3.98 |
Computer Science |
| Outfield |
Mike Kalina |
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY |
V |
Sr. |
Munster, Ind. |
3.44 |
Psychology; Environmental Sciences |
| Outfield |
Christopher Schmidt |
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY |
V |
Sr. |
Jasper, IN |
3.92 |
Computer Hardware Technology |
| Designated Hitter |
Daniel Webb |
ILLINOIS, UNIVERSITY OF |
V |
Sr. |
Anna, Ill. |
3.20 |
Community Health |
