AUSTIN, Texas --- Five Tusculum University student-athletes have been named to the 2024 NCAA Division II Baseball Academic All-District® 3 first team as selected by the College Sports Communicators.
Earning CSC Academic All-District® honors for the TU baseball program are: Will Samuelson, Ben Scartz, Drew Sliwinski, Seth Willis and Zach Wilson.
The 2024 Academic All-District® Baseball Team recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
District 3 is comprised of colleges and universities representing the South Atlantic Conference, Peach Belt Conference and Conference Carolinas. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 (undergraduate and graduate) or higher and must be at least a sophomore. For position players, nominees must have competed in at least 90 percent of team games played or have started at least 66 percent of the total number of team games played. For pitchers, nominees must pitch 25-plus innings or appear in 17 contests as a pitcher.
Samuelson, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, graduated last month with cum laude honors while earning his Bachelor of Science degree while majoring in accounting. He finished with a 3.56 GPA and returns to the CSC Academic All-District® team for a second straight year. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Dean's List, Charles Oliver Gray Honors List and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. He was also a two-time recipient of the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award.
Samuelson appeared in 45 contests including 41 starts, mostly as a designated hitter. He batted .289 with 43 total hits including six doubles, one triple and a team-best six home runs. He recorded 25 RBI while drawing 23 walks and scored 26 runs. During his career, he finished with a .290 batting average and posted 126 career hits in his 130 outings. He also scored 78 runs and tallied 82 RBI. Of his career-hit total, he accounted for 24 doubles and 16 home runs.
Scartz, a shortstop from Tarpon Springs, Florida, graduated from Tusculum in May with magna cum laude distinction with his Bachelor of Science degree. He finished with a 3.64 GPA while majoring in business. He is a member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Dean's List and Charles Oliver Gray Honors List.
During his two seasons with the Pioneers, he garnered All-SAC honors in both campaigns including 2024 where he garnered second team laurels. This past spring, he finished second on the club with his .377 batting average which included 69 hits as well as a team-best 14 doubles in his 46 starts at shortstop. He also led the team with three triples and finished with 38 RBI. He leads the NCAA II Southeast Region in "toughest to strikeout" fanning on once in every 22.9 at-bats (4th-best ratio in the country). He accounted for a 14-game hitting streak in 2024 which also included a 22-game on-base streak (12th longest in TU history).
In his 89 games at Tusculum, Scartz finished with a .370 batting average which includes 129 hits, 25 doubles, four triples, one home run and 72 RBI. He struck out only 20 times in his 349 at-bats in the Orange & Black. He earned All-SAC third team honors in 2023 and was also tabbed to the SAC All-Defensive Team and the ABCA All-Southeast Region Defensive Team.
Sliwinski, a junior right-handed pitcher from Knoxville, Tennessee, has a 3.95 GPA while majoring in business and accounting. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, President's List, Dean's List, Gray Honors List and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. He returns to the CSC Academic All-District® team for a second consecutive season and is also a recipient of the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award.
He made 16 appearances on the mound where he logged 29.2 innings and logged a 5.16 ERA with 32 strikeouts. He had a 1-2 record and finished second on the club with his four saves. Sliwinski has made 53 appearances with six starts in his TU career where he has five wins, six saves, 106 strikeouts and a 4.82 ERA.
Willis, a right-handed pitcher from Vale, North Carolina, graduated last month with magna cum laude honors while earning his Bachelor of Science degree. He finished with a 3.50 GPA and majored in sport management. He is a member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Dean's List, Gray Honors List and SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll.
The 2024 All-SAC third team selection went 6-3 overall while recording a team-best five saves to lead the TU bullpen. He appeared in 20 games and pitched in 50 1/3 innings where he totaled 55 strikeouts and a 3.75 ERA. Last year, he pitched a seven-inning no-hitter and earned SAC Pitcher of the Week plaudits. In his 34 games at Tusculum, he has played in 118 2/3 innings, posted a 12-7 record with 116 strikeouts.
Wilson, an infielder from Lawndale, North Carolina, has a 3.96 GPA in his graduate studies at Tusculum to go along with his 4.00 GPA as an undergraduate majoring in physical education. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Dean's List, Gray List, President's List and Athletic Director's Honor Roll. He is also a two-time recipient of the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award.
Wilson started in 40 games, mostly at second base, where he finished third on the roster with his .340 batting average. He totaled 53 hits including eight doubles, one triple, 14 RBI and 33 runs scored. He played in 62 games at Tusculum where he finished with a .315 batting average.
The Pioneers went 26-26 overall and finished tied for third-place in the South Atlantic Conference standings.
The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes baseball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced July 2.
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 2023-2024 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.
