Ball State University Athletics
Top Stories of 2015-16: Alex Call's Award-Winning Season
August 01, 2016 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Another athletic year is in the books for the Cardinals. Ball State student-athletes, coaches and teams accomplished several notable feats in 2015-16 and left their mark on the university.
Through much discussion, BallStateSports.com has identified the top 10 storylines of the year. We are revealing the storylines one-by-one each Monday throughout the summer. In early August, once they have all been announced, fans will be able to vote for their favorite stories of the year.
The stories are being revealed in chronological order, beginning with the fall season and running through the spring. This week, we look back at Alex Call's success on and off the baseball diamond …
Alex Call's Award-Winning Season
By most standards, Alex Call had a successful year as a sophomore in 2015. He led the baseball team in batting average (.339) and runs scored (45) on the way to earning All-Mid-American Conference second team honors.
A year later in 2016, Call took his game to another level and put together one of the most impressive seasons in Ball State history.
The right fielder was named to the Louisville Slugger All-America first team as announced by Collegiate Baseball. A native of River Falls, Wisconsin, Call wrapped up his 2016 season as the league leader in hits (87), runs (67), doubles (24), triples (6), total bases (162) and slugging (.667) while ranking among the top five players in the MAC in home runs (13), batting average (.358), stolen bases (17) and on-base percentage (.443). Call's numbers also stood up nationally as he ranked sixth in total bases, seventh in runs, ninth in doubles, and 18th in slugging percentage.
Call was the fifth Cardinal to be named a first team All-American, joining Kolbrin Vitek (2010), Brad Snyder (2003), Bryan Bullington (2002) and Thomas Howard (1996).
He was named the MAC Player of the Year and also earned a spot on the MAC All-Defensive Team. Following the season, the Chicago White Sox picked Call in the third round of the Major League Baseball Draft.
In the classroom, Call proved to be just as successful. He was named to CoSIDA's Academic All-America first team thanks to owning a 3.838 GPA in entrepreneurial management. Call is one of only five Cardinals baseball player ever to earn Academic All-America first team accolades, joining 2016 teammate Caleb Stayton.
Call is currently playing minor league baseball for the Chicago White Sox. He was promoted to Single A Kannapolis in mid-July.
Previous Storylines
June 6 – Soccer's Title Run
June 13 – Mike Neu Returns as Football Head Coach
June 20 – Men's Volleyball Wins 11 Straight Matches
June 27 – Nathalie Fontaine Breaks Women's Basketball Scoring Record
July 5 – Gymnastics Success at MAC Championships
July 11 – Men's Basketball Turnaround
July 18 – Steve Shondell Retirement
July 25 – Women's Tennis Wins MAC Title
Aug. 1 – Alex Call's Award Winning Season
Aug. 8 – TBA
