Four Ohio Wesleyan University baseball players were named to the All-North Coast Athletic Conference teams, it was announced today by the NCAC.
Senior outfielder Edrick Padilla (Salinas, P.R./Perkiomen (Pa.) School) was a first-team All-NCAC pick, sophomore first baseman Zane Vitense (Maple Grove, Minn.) was a second-team selection, and fifth-year shortstop D.J. Neff (Grove City) and junior outfielder Sammy Stoner (Dublin/Jerome) were third-team choices.
Padilla ranks fifth in the NCAC in batting average (.396). He ranks third in doubles (16) and fourth in slugging percentage (.667), is tied for fifth in home runs (7), ranks sixth in total bases (96), is tied for 10th in RBI (42) and tied for 12th in hits (57), and ranks 17th in on-base percentage (.448).
Vitense was selected to the All-NCAC teams as a utility player, a position player who also pitches. Vitense batted .303 and drove in 17 runs this season while fielding .984 and taking part in a league-leading 38 double plays, 36 as a first baseman and 2 as a pitcher. On the mound, Vitense made 10 appearances, all in relief, compiling a 1-0 record with 1 save and a 4.50 earned run average. Vitense was a second-team All-NCAC pick as a designated hitter and was the league's Newcomer of the Year in 2023.
Neff batted .324 with 5 home runs and 33 RBI this season. He is tied for 13th in the conference in home runs and ranks 17th in RBI. Neff also is tied for fifth in the NCAC in doubles (14), ranks 15th in slugging percentage (.537), and is tied for 18th in total bases (73) and stolen bases (7). Neff was a third-team All-NCAC choice in 2023.
Stoner batted .338 with 10 RBI this season. He ranks fourth in the NCAC in stolen bases (19) and seventh in on-base percentage (.480), is tied for seventh in runs scored (43), is tied for eighth in times hit by pitch (14), and is tied for 12th in walks (24). Stoner was a second-team All-NCAC selection in 2023.
Ohio Wesleyan finished with a 20-19 overall record, the Battling Bishops' first winning season since 2016. The Bishops finished in sixth place in the NCAC standings with a 6-10 mark.
