Ball State University Athletics
DeGeeter, Dygert, Miller Named Academic All-MAC
June 07, 2006 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State pitcher Ryan DeGeeter (Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw H.S.), second baseman Kyle Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola H.S.) and first baseman Brad Miller (Muncie, Ind./Central H.S.) have been named to the 2006 Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team, as announced today by the league office.
A total of 15 student-athletes were named to the team. The number of honorees on the MAC All-Academic Team are the number that is set for the specific sport or 33 percent of the number of nominees, whichever is greater.
DeGeeter, a junior exercise science major, owns a team-best 3.742 GPA. The right-handed starter finished the season with a 3-5 record and a 5.02 ERA. DeGeeter struck out a career-high eight batters in Ball State's March 12 victory over Vermont. He had his best start of the season May 7 against Toledo, holding the Rockets scoreless on four hits in seven innings of work.
Dygert, a four-year starter at second base, graduated in May with a 3.652 GPA in biology. On the field, he hit .316 during his seior season with seven home runs. Dygert was named MVP of the MAC Tournament after hitting .438 over the four games with two home runs and seven RBI. Following his junior year in 2005,he was named to the ESPN The Magazine All-District V Baseball Team and Academic All-America Second Team. He is an Academic All-MAC selection for the second year in a row.
Miller, a senior physical education major, owns a 3.428 GPA. The power-hitting first baseman earned All-MAC First Team honors in 2006 after leading the conference in home runs and ranking seventh in Division I prior to the NCAA Regional with 21 homers in 57 games played. He is the Ball State record-holder for career home runs (50), career RBI (228) single-season RBI (76), career hits (304) and career games started (227). Miller was also named Academic All-MAC following his sophomore season in 2004.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
Ball State has had 12 players named Academic All-MAC since 2003. Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Toledo each had three selections on the 2006 team. The Cardinals wrapped up the 2006 season with a 38-22 (16-9 MAC) record and played in their first NCAA Tournament since 1969 after winning the first MAC Tournament Championship in school history.
