KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Jenner Steele has been named MIAA Baseball Co-Player of the Year and Jake Angelico, Jason Schneider, and Zack Stewart earned MIAA postseason accolades, the conference announced this morning.
 
Steele, a senior first basemen from Branson, Missouri, becomes the first Jet to earn Player of the Year honors since Tyler Bugner earned the Heartland Conference Player of the Year and is the first Jet in Newman history to earn MIAA Player of The Year for any sport. He also earned MIAA First Team.
 
Jenner notched his spot at the top of the MIAA statistics in several categories. Steele was first in average (.423), on base + slugging percentage (1.308), hits (85), total bags (165), and slugging percentage (.821). He finished second in home runs (20) and on base percentage (.487) and third in RBI's (65). He broke the single season home run record and currently holds the single season RBI record. He became the Newman division two era home run king when he hit his 15th home run of his career in the series at Washburn earlier this season.
 
Steele's offensive performances this season has put him up there with the best in DII. His 165 total bags are tied for second in the nation and his 85 hits has him alone at sixth. His 20 home runs is fifth in DII.

"Winning the MIAA player of the year has been a dream of mine for the past two years now," Steele said. "I'm very blessed for the honors I have won. I want to thank all of my coaches and teammates for always pushing me to become a better player. I also want to thank my family and girlfriend Libby for sticking by my side for all of these years. Baseball has been my life for the last fifteen years and I'm very blessed to go out the way I did! Lastly, I want to thank my Lord and savior for all the blessings he's put in my life! Roll Jets."
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Jake Angelico earned Third Team All-MIAA. Angelico was a crucial part of the team's success this season. The New Braunfels, Texas native was second on the team in average (.349), runs (53), hits (65), doubles (13), and RBI's (63). His 27 stolen bases this season was second in the MIAA. Jake was thrown out just twice this season.
 
Jason Schneider also was named to Third Team All-MIAA. Schneider was third on the team in average (.339) and hits (652). Schneider came up big this season when the Jets needed him to at third base, making web gem after web gem.
 
Zack Stewart earned MIAA Honorable Mention. Stewart finished regular season play second on the team in home runs with 15. He started 48 games during the regular season, hitting .271 with 49 hits and 50 RBI's.
 
Although the awards have come out, the season is still going as Newman Baseball reached the MIAA post-season tournament for the first time in program history. It's the first time the Jets will be playing post season baseball since the 2014 season. With a 22-28 overall record and 14-19 conference record Newman earned the seven seed in the tournament and will head to Joplin, Missouri to face the two seed and nationally ranked Missouri Southern Lions. First pitch is set for 1 PM Friday and 1 PM Saturday. Game three will start at 1 PM Sunday if necessary.

2023 MIAA Baseball Postseason Awards and All-MIAA Teams
Co-Player of the Year – Nixon Brannan – Pittsburg State, Jr.
Co-Player of the Year – Jenner Steele – Newman, Sr.
Pitcher of the Year – Zac Shoemaker – Pittsburg State, Sr.
Freshman of the Year – Ethan Clark – Missouri Southern*
Coach of the Year – Kyle Crookes – Central Missouri
*Unanimous Selection
 
FIRST TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Zac Shoemaker – Pittsburg State, Sr.
Starting Pitcher: Conner Wolf – Central Missouri, So.
Starting Pitcher: Cole Woods – Missouri Southern, Sr.
Relief Pitcher: JD McReynolds – Central Missouri, So.
Catcher: Nixon Brannan – Pittsburg State, Jr.
First Base: Jenner Steele – Newman, Sr.
Second Base: Nate Mieszkowski – Missouri Western, So.
Shortstop: Henry Kuiak – Missouri Southern, Sr.
Third Base: Jack Schark – Central Missouri, So.
Outfield: Prescott Horn – Rogers State, Sr.
Outfield: Noah Olson – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
Outfield: Carter Young – Central Missouri, Jr.
Designated Hitter: Vance Tobol – Central Missouri, Jr.
Utility: Brayden Rodden – Northeastern State,
 
SECOND TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Ben Des Rosiers – Pittsburg State, Sr.
Starting Pitcher: Rane Pfeifer – Washburn, Sr.
Starting Pitcher: Caseey Steward – Washburn, Jr.
Relief Pitcher: Valek Cisneros – Central Oklahoma, So.
Catcher: Wyatt Gray – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
First Base: Matthew Miller – Missouri Southern, Sr.
Shortstop: Cole Moore – Central Missouri, Jr.
Third Base: Gavin Mestas – Rogers State, Jr.
Outfield: Ike Book – Washburn, So.
Outfield: Karson Coffee – Pittsburg State, Jr.
Outfield: Tregan Parker – Missouri Southern, So.
Designated Hitter – Garrett Rice – Missouri Southern, Jr.
Utility: Emile Boies – Fort Hays State, R-So.
 
THIRD TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Lee Callison – Northeastern State, Sr.
Starting Pitcher: Diego Dominguez – Central Oklahoma, So.
Starting Pitcher: Cole Gayman – Missouri Southern, So.
Starting Pitcher: Cole LaLonde – Central Missouri, Sr.
Relief Pitcher: Jacob Bailey – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
Catcher: Chayton Beck – Missouri Southern, So.
First Base: John Prudhom – Central Missouri, Sr.
Second Base: Jaden Parsons – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
Shortstop: Cal Watkins – Washburn, Jr.
Third Base: Jase Schneider – Newman, Jr.
Outfield: Jake Angelico – Newman, Sr.
Outfield: Ethan Clark – Missouri Southern, Fr.
Outfield: Ryan Koski – Northwest Missouri, Sr.
Designated Hitter: Coby Tweten – Northeastern State, Jr.
Utility: Aiden Proctor – Central Oklahoma, So.
 
GOLD GLOVE TEAM
Pitcher: Cole Woods – Missouri Southern, Sr.
Catcher: Chayton Beck – Missouri Southern, So.
First Base: John Prudhom – Central Missouri, Sr.
Second Base: Jaden Parsons – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
Shortstop: Jesse Holguin – Rogers State, Sr.^
Shortstop: Henry Kusiak – Missouri Southern, Jr.^
Third Base: Palmer Hutchison – Emporia State, R-So.
Outfield: Prescott Horn – Rogers State, Sr.
Outfield: Noah Olson – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
Outfield: Brennen vanBreusegen – Central Missouri, Jr.
^Reflects Tie In Voting
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Jacob Wilson (Starting Pitcher); Chase Heath (Catcher); Max Holy (Shortstop); Mason Lowe (Outfield); Brennan vanBreusegen (Outfield)

Central Oklahoma: Kaleb Glass (Outfield)

Emporia State: Noah Geekie (Starting Pitcher); Ian Lanik (Starting Pitcher); Kadyn Williams (Second Base); Noah Geekie (Outfield)

Fort Hays State: Isaiah Ural (Outfield); Ed Scott (Outfield)

Missouri Southern: Laif Hultine (Relief Pitcher); Kyle Moore (Relief Pitcher)

Missouri Western: David Steffen (Relief Pitcher); Zack Cushing (Relief Pitcher); Jerry Nix (Catcher); Travis Wiese (Third Base); Brenden Andersen (Designated Hitter); Will Courtney (Utility)

Newman: Zack Stewart (Shortstop)

Northeastern State: Seth Stacey (Starting Pitcher); Brady Evans (Catcher); CD White (Catcher); Ty Van Meter (Third Base); Isaiah Keller (Outfield); Blake Freeman (Outfield)

Northwest Missouri: Alex Slocum (Starting Pitcher); Max Spitzmiller (Starting Pitcher); Jacob Gajic (Relief Pitcher); Cole Slibowski (Utility)

Pittsburg State: Tanner Leslie (Starting Pitcher); Parker Weddle (Relief Pitcher); Austin Warkins (First Base); Deagan Brady (Third Base); Brett Daley (Outfield)

Rogers State: Rece Parker (Starting Pitcher); Octavio Sanchez (Relief Pitcher); Jesse Holguin (Shortstop); AJ Folds (Outfield)

Washburn: Chase Torkelson (Relief Pitcher); Trey Adams (Second Base); Trevor McCollum (Outfield)