Kirn, Kroeger, Simpson collect All-Midwest Region honors from NCBWA

QUINCY — A pair of Quincy University baseball players and a Palmyra product earned first-team All-Midwest Region honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Hawks left-hander Griffin Kirn and Maryville left-hander Jacob Kroeger were two of the four first-team starting pitchers, while Hawks first baseman/designated hitter Austin Simpson was the first-team utility player. Simpson received second-team all-region honors as a first baseman.

Kirn, a Quincy Notre Dame graduate, finished his junior season with an 7-1 record and a 3.00 earned run average in 78 innings over 14 appearances, including 13 starts. He struck out 96 while earning Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year.

His 255 career strikeouts rank second in program history and his 21 career victories has him in the top 10.

Kroeger, a Palmyra High School graduate, went 7-1 with a 3.18 ERA in helping the Saints win the GLVC Tournament championship and reach the 40-win plateau for the first time in program. The first-team All-GLVC senior struck out 117 in 90 ⅔ innings.

He tied the Maryville record for career victories with 18 and career starts with 41, while setting career records for strikeouts (305) and innings pitched (243).

Simpson, a redshirt junior from Fairfield, Iowa, led the Hawks with a .420 average while collecting 17 doubles, 17 home runs and 56 RBIs. He also walked 47 times and led the team with a .551 on-base average. He earned first-team All-GLVC honors. 

His 38 career home runs ranks third in program history.

The first-team all-region honors make all three players eligible for NCAA Division II All-American honors.