Ball State University Athletics
Three Cardinals Voted on Baseball All-MAC Teams
May 20, 2026 | Baseball
Ball State baseball placed three student-athletes on the 2026 All-MAC teams, including two on the First Team, the Mid-American Conference office announced Wednesday morning.
Jacob Gillis (first base) and Brayden Huebner (designated hitter) were named to the First Team, while Brett Griffiths (shortstop) earned Second Team honors in a vote of the league's head coaches. Each received a MAC postseason recognition for the first time.
A full list of specialty awards and All-Conference teams can be found below.
Gillis finished third on the team among qualifiers in batting average (.316) and OPS (.904) while tallying the third-most hits (61) and second-most home runs (10) and tying for the team lead in RBI (47) in his first season at Ball State. The junior out of Fergus, Canada paced MAC first basemen in batting average and total hits on his way to the First Team recognition.
Huebner was among the MAC leaders at any position in slugging percentage (.661, third), OPS (1.099, fourth), runs scored (61, fourth), doubles (15, T-eighth), and homers (12, T-tenth). A sophomore from Evansville, Ind., Huebner paced Ball State in OPS, runs, doubles, homers, total bases (113), slugging percentage, walks (26), and on base percentage (.432) while finishing second in batting average (.339) and stolen bases (14).
Griffiths shined in the power categories, leading the league and ranking eighth nationally entering postseason play in triples with six while also tallying 15 doubles to tie for the team lead along with six home runs. The senior out of West Sacramento, Calif., produced a .300 batting average, .876 OPS, 62 hits, 40 runs scored, 44 RBI and 107 total bases in his second season with the Cardinals to earn the Second Team All-MAC recognition.
"Always good to have our guys recognized for their outstanding seasons," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "Jacob, Brayden and Brett have been solid contributors to our team this year. The progress Brayden and Brett have made from last year is noteworthy – a tribute to their work ethic and drive to become the best they can be. In a single season with us Jacob has proven to be a consistent performer.
"Hats off to each of these young men for having outstanding seasons and being recognized by their peers."
Ball State begins the 2026 MAC Tournament facing No. 3 seed Toledo at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at ForeFront Field in Avon, Ohio.
2026 MAC All-Conference Awards
Coach of the Year: Brian Smiley, Miami
Player of the Year: Tommy Harrison, Miami
Pitcher of the Year: Nathan Leininger, Toledo
Freshman of the Year: Diego Cruz, Miami
Freshman Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Frey, Toledo
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
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First Team
C: Brody Williams, Kent State
1B: Jacob Gillis, Ball State
2B: Diego Cruz, Miami
3B: Troy Sudbrook, Toledo
SS: Charlie Scholvin, Toledo
OF: Tommy Harrison, Miami
OF: Tanner Mally, Western Michigan
OF: Brody Chrisman, Akron
DH: Brayden Huebner, Ball StateÂ
Starting Pitcher: Nathan Leininger, Toledo
Starting Pitcher: Max Vaisvila, Northern Illinois
Starting Pitcher: Ethan Stade, Bowling Green
Starting Pitcher: Ricky Kidd, Western Michigan
Relief Pitcher: Austin Berggren, Miami
Relief Pitcher: Turner Doran, Western Michigan
At-Large: Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
At-Large: Marcus Dierks, Miami
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Second Team
C: Carson Raether, Miami
1B: Evan Appelwick, Miami
2B: Cole Smith, Northern Illinois
3B: Ripken Reese, Kent State
SS: Luke Matthews, Kent StateÂ
SS: Brett Griffiths, Ball StateÂ
OF: Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
OF: Sawyer Solitaria, Kent State
OF: Liam Arsich, Toledo
DH: Caden Robertson, Northern IllinoisÂ
Starting Pitcher: Ciaran Caughey, Kent State
Starting Pitcher: Callen Powers, UMass
Starting Pitcher: Hayden Frey, Toledo
Starting Pitcher: Clayton Burke, Miami
Relief Pitcher: Evan Holewinski, Kent State
Relief Pitcher: Peyton Williams, Kent State
At-Large: Blake Bowen, Akron
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All-MAC Defensive Team
C– Nick Weaver, Eastern Michigan
1B– Blake Bowen, Akron
2B– Diego Cruz, Miami
3B– Troy Sudbrook, Toledo
SS– Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
OF– Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
OF– Tanner Mally, Western Michigan
OF– Marcus Dierks, Miami
P– Danny Cihocki, Northern Illinois
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Jacob Gillis (first base) and Brayden Huebner (designated hitter) were named to the First Team, while Brett Griffiths (shortstop) earned Second Team honors in a vote of the league's head coaches. Each received a MAC postseason recognition for the first time.
A full list of specialty awards and All-Conference teams can be found below.
Gillis finished third on the team among qualifiers in batting average (.316) and OPS (.904) while tallying the third-most hits (61) and second-most home runs (10) and tying for the team lead in RBI (47) in his first season at Ball State. The junior out of Fergus, Canada paced MAC first basemen in batting average and total hits on his way to the First Team recognition.
Huebner was among the MAC leaders at any position in slugging percentage (.661, third), OPS (1.099, fourth), runs scored (61, fourth), doubles (15, T-eighth), and homers (12, T-tenth). A sophomore from Evansville, Ind., Huebner paced Ball State in OPS, runs, doubles, homers, total bases (113), slugging percentage, walks (26), and on base percentage (.432) while finishing second in batting average (.339) and stolen bases (14).
Griffiths shined in the power categories, leading the league and ranking eighth nationally entering postseason play in triples with six while also tallying 15 doubles to tie for the team lead along with six home runs. The senior out of West Sacramento, Calif., produced a .300 batting average, .876 OPS, 62 hits, 40 runs scored, 44 RBI and 107 total bases in his second season with the Cardinals to earn the Second Team All-MAC recognition.
"Always good to have our guys recognized for their outstanding seasons," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "Jacob, Brayden and Brett have been solid contributors to our team this year. The progress Brayden and Brett have made from last year is noteworthy – a tribute to their work ethic and drive to become the best they can be. In a single season with us Jacob has proven to be a consistent performer.
"Hats off to each of these young men for having outstanding seasons and being recognized by their peers."
Ball State begins the 2026 MAC Tournament facing No. 3 seed Toledo at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at ForeFront Field in Avon, Ohio.
2026 MAC All-Conference Awards
Coach of the Year: Brian Smiley, Miami
Player of the Year: Tommy Harrison, Miami
Pitcher of the Year: Nathan Leininger, Toledo
Freshman of the Year: Diego Cruz, Miami
Freshman Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Frey, Toledo
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
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First Team
C: Brody Williams, Kent State
1B: Jacob Gillis, Ball State
2B: Diego Cruz, Miami
3B: Troy Sudbrook, Toledo
SS: Charlie Scholvin, Toledo
OF: Tommy Harrison, Miami
OF: Tanner Mally, Western Michigan
OF: Brody Chrisman, Akron
DH: Brayden Huebner, Ball StateÂ
Starting Pitcher: Nathan Leininger, Toledo
Starting Pitcher: Max Vaisvila, Northern Illinois
Starting Pitcher: Ethan Stade, Bowling Green
Starting Pitcher: Ricky Kidd, Western Michigan
Relief Pitcher: Austin Berggren, Miami
Relief Pitcher: Turner Doran, Western Michigan
At-Large: Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
At-Large: Marcus Dierks, Miami
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Second Team
C: Carson Raether, Miami
1B: Evan Appelwick, Miami
2B: Cole Smith, Northern Illinois
3B: Ripken Reese, Kent State
SS: Luke Matthews, Kent StateÂ
SS: Brett Griffiths, Ball StateÂ
OF: Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
OF: Sawyer Solitaria, Kent State
OF: Liam Arsich, Toledo
DH: Caden Robertson, Northern IllinoisÂ
Starting Pitcher: Ciaran Caughey, Kent State
Starting Pitcher: Callen Powers, UMass
Starting Pitcher: Hayden Frey, Toledo
Starting Pitcher: Clayton Burke, Miami
Relief Pitcher: Evan Holewinski, Kent State
Relief Pitcher: Peyton Williams, Kent State
At-Large: Blake Bowen, Akron
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All-MAC Defensive Team
C– Nick Weaver, Eastern Michigan
1B– Blake Bowen, Akron
2B– Diego Cruz, Miami
3B– Troy Sudbrook, Toledo
SS– Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
OF– Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
OF– Tanner Mally, Western Michigan
OF– Marcus Dierks, Miami
P– Danny Cihocki, Northern Illinois
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Players Mentioned
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