Mitchell, S.D. — The 2024 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Baseball All-Conference team has been announced after a vote of league coaches. The 2024 GPAC All-Conference Team consists of a first-team, second-team and an honorable mention list along with a gold glove team.
Dakota Wesleyan had five members on the GPAC Baseball All-Conference list which included first year junior pitcher Mitchell Sand, senior two-way player Seth Christiansen, sophomore outfielder Lane Darrow, sophomore pitcher Alexander Mizsak, and sophomore outfielder Caleb Meyers.
Mitchell Sand – Honorable Mention – Junior – Pitcher – (1x ALL-GPAC)
Finished the season as the Tigers top arm with his 10 starts on the mound and team best 4.50 era while being named an all-conference honorable mention player. That 4.50 era ranked top-15 in the GPAC and of his 10 starts Sand gave up two or less runs in half of the starts while shutting out his opponents twice during the year. Had a nine inning shutout performance against Morningside at home which the Tigers won in extra innings, 1-0 (3/15/24). Earned his first complete game shutout win on the road against Hastings (4/6/24). Recorded a season-high 10 punchouts against No. 14 Doane at home (4/20/24).
Seth Christiansen – Honorable Mention – Senior – Pitcher/Infielder – (2x ALL-GPAC)
Played and started in all 50 games as a two-way player for the Tigers as an infielder and pitcher while being named an all-conference honorable mention player. Christiansen finished the season with career-highs in every major stat category with a .301 batting average, 53 total hits, 35 RBI, 20 runs, 14 doubles, six home runs, 22 extra base hits, and a .383 on base percentage. Seth also had career-bests on the mound with his 54 innings, 51 strikeouts, and a 5.83 era. Was top-25 in RBI and extra base hits while finishing top-10 in the conference in doubles. Had a big two-game series against D2 opponent Northern State going 6 for 8 with six RBI and two extra base hits. Was named week four GPAC Pitcher of the week when he had taken a perfect game into the eighth inning of a game that was only supposed to be a seven-inning game but was still scoreless, he ended up going 9 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts, a career-high, his nine shutout-innings made it 26 straight scoreless innings for the Tiger staff which is a program record.
Lane Darrow – Honorable Mention – Sophomore – Outfielder – (1x ALL-GPAC)
Started in 49 games in the outfield for the Tigers while being named an all-conference honorable mention player. Darrow finished the season batting a career-best .305 average. Darrow also hit career marks in RBI (12), BB (19), hits (54), extra base hits (8), on base percentage (.391), and also in runs (35) which led the team and was ranked top-20 in the GPAC. Had a three hit performance against Dordt (4/9/24) and at home against Jamestown (4/14/24). Had 17 multi hit games during the season while also having a 13-game hitting streak during the season (2/24-3/15). Hit his first career home run against D2 opponent Sioux Falls (4/2/24).
Alexander Mizsak – Honorable Mention – Sophomore – Pitcher – (1x ALL-GPAC)
Started 10 games on the mound for the Tigers while being named an all-conference honorable mention player. Mizsak had career-highs in era (5.33), innings pitched (54.0), strikeouts (41), and WHIP (1.61). Mizsak earned his first career complete game shutout win with his seven inning, six strikeout performance at home against at the time top ranked and undefeated in conference Morningside (3/15/24). Had quality starts against Graceland to open the season (2/10/24), Briar Cliff (3/28/24), and Hastings (4/6/24).
Caleb Meyers – Honorable Mention – Sophomore – Outfielder – (1x ALL-GPAC)
Appeared and started in all 50 games in the outfield for the Tigers while being named an all-conference honorable mention player. Meyers was also contributing quality innings on the mound in the first half of the season before an injury took him out of the rotation. Meyers finished the season with a .331 batting average which was first on the team and ranked top-15 in the conference. Caleb also had career-highs in extra base hits (17), RBI (23), Runs (32) and also a .420 on base percentage which led the team and was top-20 in the GPAC … Meyers was named the week seven GPAC Player of The Week with his big week going 14-for-25 (.560) in the Tigers seven games over the week and had nine extra base hits during that stretch that included five doubles, two triples, and two home runs. Meyers had a big day against D2 opponent Sioux Falls University with his 3 for 3 day and two home runs which was his first career multi homerun game (4/2/24).