QU’s Simpson receives first-team All-American honors, Palmyra’s Kroeger on second team

QUINCY — Austin Simpson’s ability to get on base was as good as anyone in the nation.

The postseason honors he’s accumulating reflect that.

The Quincy University redshirt junior first baseman was named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association first-team All-American this week, becoming the seventh first-team All-American in program history.

Simpson, a native of 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 and first-team All-Midwest Region honors.

His 38 career home runs ranks third in program history.

Maryville senior left-handed pitcher Jacob Kroeger was a second-team All-American. 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 history.

The first-team All-GLVC starter 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).

Quincy University All-Americans

2024 — Austin Simpson, utility, first team

2023 — Luke Napleton, catcher, first team

2021 — Dayson Croes, utility, first team

2021 — Riley Martin, pitcher, third team

2018 — Cody Birdsong, second base, third team

2017 — Jake Walters, second base, second team

2016 — Ryan Synder, outfielder, first team

2016 — Justin Blechle, utility, second team

2013 — Nick Tindall, catcher, second team

2011 — Brian Thompson, pitcher, honorable mention

2004 — Kevin Sewell, second base, first team

2003 — Brandon DeJaynes, pitcher, first team

2000 — Josh Rabe, outfield, second team

1999 — Josh Rabe, outfield, first team

1997 — Derek Harlan, outfield, second team

1995 — Mark Mueller, pitcher, honorable mention

1995 — Eric Albrecht, outfield, honorable mention

1994 — Bart Toennies, outfield, third team