The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association released its all-conference baseball team on Thursday. Five Fort Hays State players earned honors, led by first-team selections Ryan Busboom and Brett Macari. Nash Smith and Shawn Lewick were named to the second team and Mace Krol earned honorable mention status.
Busboom earned first-team honors in the outfield, a position he converted to this year after playing third base at Barton (Kan.) Community College last year. The Cortland, Neb., native is the top offensive player in the MIAA, leading the conference in home runs (16), RBIs (64), total bases (138), slugging percentage (.762), and hits (71) at the end of the regular season. He entered the final week of the season leading the conference in all the triple crown categories, but his batting average dipped to .392 after the final weekend and now ranks fourth in the MIAA in that category. Busboom is also just one off the conference lead in doubles with 17 and ranks in the top 10 in runs scored and on-base percentage. As of May 8, Busboom ranked seventh nationally in home runs and RBIs and eighth in slugging percentage and total bases. Busboom was one of three players to earn a unanimous selection to the first team.
Macari is now a two-time All-MIAA selection after earning an honorable mention nod last year at relief pitcher. The Andale native earns first team honors this year after being tops among the MIAA saves leaders in ERA (1.44), WHIP (0.80) and opponent batting average (.174). He enters the MIAA Tournament with seven saves, just one off MIAA leader Travis Unthank of Central Missouri who has eight. Macari ranks second all-time in saves at FHSU with 19 after recording 12 last year, which was third-best in a single season at FHSU. Macari is 4-1 in 25.0 innings pitched with 22 strikeouts. Three of his four wins came when he entered with FHSU tied or trailing. He finished all 16 games he's played in this year.
Smith is now a three-time All-MIAA selection in the outfield, earning second team honors for the second consecutive year. Smith, who is one of the top offensive players in FHSU history, is having another great year. At the end of the regular season slate, the Jewell native is tied for the MIAA lead in doubles with 18 and ranks second in runs scored (52), total bases (117). He is tied for second in home runs with Mace Krol, each with 10. Smith also ranks in the top 10 in slugging percentage, RBIs, hits, and on-base percentage. Smith was also an honorable mention selection as a sophomore in 2010.
Lewick earned honorable mention honors as a starting pitcher. As the ace of the Tiger rotation, Lewick enters the MIAA Tournament at 6-4 overall with a 3.72 ERA. He has three complete games to his credit, along with 65.1 innings pitched and 53 strikeouts. In his six wins this year, Lewick allowed just one run five times and two once. All of his losses were in games that the opponent scored unearned runs (three of those games the opponent scored two or more unearned runs). The senior from Pretty Prairie is in his first and only season with the Tigers after transferring from Kansas State University.
Krol, like Lewick, is in his first and only year with FHSU after transferring from Nicholls State University. He earned honorable mention honors as a designated hitter. Krol is hitting .321 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 38 RBI. He is tied for second in the MIAA in home runs with teammate Nash Smith. He also ranks in the top 10 in the MIAA in slugging percentage and total bases. Krol is a native of Nickerson.