Omaha World-Herald News Article

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Six Bruins from the 2022 NAIA World Series participant Bellevue University baseball team picked up postseason honors from the Omaha World-Herald as the OWH all-Midlands baseball team was announced today. Senior pitcher Elijah Johnson was recognized as the honorary captain of the team.

Bruins joining Johnson on the first team included: catcher Brenton Davis, shortstop Alec Ackerman, outfielder Conner Barnett, outfielder Kanta Kobayashi, and pitcher Blake Crippen. 

Honorable mention selections included Andrew Ishii, Alexandro Celiceo, McGrane Pledger, Alex Stufft.

Johnson earned first-team NAIA All-American honors and was named the NSAA Pitcher of the Year after turning in one of the most dominating regular seasons in conference history which featured him taking home NSAA Pitcher of the Week honors a program- and conference-record six times. While emerging as BU's ace, he recorded an 11-2 record with a 1.96 ERA and a nation-leading 153 strikeouts across 101 innings of work.

His 14.06 strikeouts per nine innings rank second all-time in BU history, and his strikeout total of 153 ranks second in school history.

Johnson was also named the 2021-22 BU Athletics co-Male Athlete of the Year.

Ackerman, who was named an NAIA second-team All-American, took home NSAA Player of the Year honors this season after serving as the anchor in the three-hole of the Bruin lineup while playing outstanding defense at short. He hit .378 with team-leading totals of 19 home runs, 166 total bases, 38 extra-base hits, and 74 RBIs. Additionally, he ranked second on the team with 69 runs scored, 88 base hits, 17 doubles, and a .712 slugging percentage. He was also successful in 7-of-9 stolen base attempts on the season.

Kobayashi earned second-team NAIA All-American and first-team all-NSAA honors while leading the Bruins and the nation with 107 base hits. He also collected the NSAA Newcomer of the Year award. Kobayashi was a mainstay in a flawless center field and atop the batting order. He hit a team-leading .439 with 31 extra-base hits along with 88 runs scored, 19 doubles, and seven triples. He amassed 22 stolen bases, the most by a Bruin in a single season since 2018, and his 107 base hits are the third-highest single-season total in program history.

Barnett earned first-team all-NSAA accolades while also being named to the NSAA Gold Glove team. He batted .388 with 13 home runs, 13 doubles, 14 stolen bases, and 57 RBIs. 

Crippen was a first-team all-NSAA selection after compiling an 11-4 record with a 3.20 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 81.2 innings pitched.  

The World-Herald's all-Midlands baseball team features the top players from Nebraska four-year colleges and universities outside of the NCAA Division I level. The 2022 team includes players from NAIA and NCAA Division II and III institutions. 

* denotes honorary captain

C - Brenton Davis, Sr., Bellevue

1B - Derek Kolbush, Sr., Nebraska Wesleyan

2B - Jay Adams, So., Concordia

SS - Alec Ackerman, Jr., Bellevue

3B - Jaidan Quinn, So., Concordia

OF - Conner Barnett, So., Bellevue

OF - Kanta Kobayashi, Jr., Bellevue

OF - Joe Osborn, So., Doane

DH - Joey Grabanski, So., Concordia

U - Lukas White, Jr., Doane

SP - Blake Crippen, So., Bellevue

* SP - Elijah Johnson, Sr., Bellevue

SP - Andrew Staebell, Jr., Wayne State

RP - Thaniel Trumper, So., Doane

Honorable mention: Bellevue: Andrew Ishii, Alexandro Celiceo, McGrane Pledger, Alex Stufft. Concordia: Alec Blakestad, Keaton Candor, Jesse Garcia, Alex Johnson, Caden Johnson, Tanner Tompkins. Doane: Kyler Beekman, Nate Mensik, Justin Nevells, Andy Theier, Jack Tillman, Julian Vargas, Jordan Wisner. Hastings: Camden Brichacek, Keaton Hoeke, Tyler Welsh. Midland: Keegan Adams, Peyton Garbers, Lucas Hamzehm Chase Reynolds, Dakota Thornton. Nebraska Wesleyan: Evan Kling, Kaleb Knox, Noah Unger. Peru State: Sebastian Rodriguez, Jose Solis, Jesus Tavarez. Wayne State: Andrew Hansen, Alex Logelin, Colin Lynam. York: Luke Juarez, Jesus Licon, Daniel Polo, Daniel Tomkiewicz.