Wednesday, April 10, 2024
by Thomas Lal

PORTLAND, Ore. –  A trio of four-time all-academic players highlight a total of 70 players named to the 2024 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Baseball Academic All-Confernece Team, presented by Barnes & Noble College.

Among the members of the team are 26 repeat selections, including the three four-time honorees, eight three-time selections and 15 second-time all-academic members. A total of 44 players were named to the team for the first time, including the top GPA in the conference of 3.96.

2024 GNAC Baseball Academic All-Conference Team – Presented By Barnes & Noble College

Total Selections: 70 | Fourth-year: 3 | Third-year: 8 | Second-year: 15 | First-year: 44

 *-2023 selection | #-2022 selection | !-2021 selection

The three four-time selections all hail from different programs and are led by Northwest Nazarene senior pitcher Kyle Ethridge with a 3.90 GPA as a criminal justice major. In addition to his excellence in the classroom, the left-hander from Alta Loma, Calif., has also been one of the best pitchers in the conference this season, ranking fifth in the league with a 3.86 ERA. Central Washington senior catcher Austin Ohalnd earned his fourth selection to the team with a 3.60 GPA while majoring in business administration and hitting .365 to rank third in the GNAC and go along with 26 RBIs.

Western Oregon senior infielder Justyn Herzog rounds out the trio with a 3.58 GPA as an exercise science major. Herzog has been putting in the work on the field as well, leading the Wolves and ranking third in the league with 29 runs scored. With their fourth selections to the team, the trio doubles the number of four-time honorees in conference history, joining Dakota Hill, Bryant Nakagawa and Ryne Oshiro who all earned four all-academic selections at Saint Martin’s from 2018-2021.

The top academic performance in the conference belongs to Central Washington junior Marcus Manzardo.  A second baseman from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Manzardo owns his 3.96 GPA as a major in exercise science and has been one of the most consistent batters in the conference, leading the league with 31 runs scored and ranking second with 48 hits.

Central Washington and Western Oregon lead all programs with 16 selections to the all-academic team apiece. Montana State Billings follows the pair with 14 while Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin’s each have 12.

To qualify for the GNAC all-academic teams, nominees must be of sophomore eligibility or greater, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 or greater on a 4.00 scale, be on the team roster for the full season and must be in their second year at the nominating institution.