Northwest Wayne News

Five members of the Wayne State University baseball team have been honored with Academic All-District accolades by College Sports Communicators. The recognition highlights their achievements both on the field and academically.

The athletes receiving this distinction are Jacoby Dale, Bennett Hitzelberger, Gabe Nazelli, Mason McGuire, and Reagan Paulina. Each has demonstrated excellence in their respective areas of study and contributed significantly to the team's performance.

Graduate center fielder Jacoby Dale has a 3.66 GPA in Sport Management & Sports Administration. He played 51 games, starting 47 times as a center fielder, hitting .305 with 54 hits. Dale's performance includes a notable 16-game hitting streak and a .990 fielding percentage.

Bennett Hitzelberger holds a 3.79 GPA in Finance and participated in 52 games with 50 starts. He led the team with a .349 batting average for the second consecutive season, alongside other key statistics like doubles and total bases.

Gabe Nazelli maintains a 3.77 GPA in Exercise & Sport Science. As a pitcher, he appeared in 13 contests, starting ten times with an ERA of 4.08. In league play, his ERA improved to 2.84 over six starts.

Mason McGuire boasts a 3.78 GPA in Sport Management and appeared in 51 games with versatility across multiple positions and batting order spots. His season highlights include leading the team with runs scored and RBI while maintaining an OPS of .877.

Reagan Paulina achieved GPAs of both 3.79 and perfect scores in Finance courses while playing in various positions over his appearances this season.

Nazelli and McGuire have advanced to the national ballot for CSC Academic All-America honors set to be announced on July 1 at noon.