Three Wayne State College baseball players were named to the 2024 NSIC All-Conference Baseball Team announced Tuesday afternoon by the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota.  Sophomore outfielder Carter Thomas received First Team honors while junior pitcher Corbin Kirk and sophomore third baseman/relief pitcher Braden Cannon both earned Second Team honors.
            Thomas, a 6-0, 190-pound sophomore outfielder from Mason City, Iowa (Mason City HS), led Wayne State and the NSIC in batting average this season at .465.  He also led the league in on-base percentage (.524) and was seventh in stolen bases with 18.  Thomas had a team leading 59 hits with 11 doubles, one home run and 24 RBI while scoring 40 runs.  He had a team-high 18 multi-hit games this season and also had the team's longest hit streak at 14 games (March 21-April 17).  Thomas was the only Wildcat player to have a five-hit game this season, going 5 for 5 with a double and four runs scored at Sioux Falls April 24^th.
            Kirk, a 6-1, 215-pound junior lefthander from Casper, Wyoming (Western Nebraska CC), received All-NSIC Second Team honors after leading the Wildcat pitching staff in numerous categories.  He was 5-2 this season in 11 starts with a 2.98 ERA.  He had three complete games, two shutouts and one combined shutout throwing a team-high 63.1 innings with 73 strikeouts.  Kirk led the NSIC in opponent batting average (.195) and had the fewest hits allowed in the league at 44.  He was fourth in the league in strikeouts, fifth in earned run average, tied for seventh in innings pitched, tied for third in earned runs allowed (21) and runs allowed (23).  Kirk struck out a season-high 12 batters, allowing just three hits and one run in a 6-1 win vs. Minot State (3/29/24).
            Cannon, a 6-1, 190-pound sophomore from Omaha (Millard South HS), earned All-NSIC Second Team honors after leading the NSIC in saves this season with five.  He posted a 2-1 record in 15 appearances and a 3.38 ERA, working 21.1 innings while striking out 22 batters allowing 24 hits and 10 runs (eight earned).  Cannon became Wayne State's all-time saves leader on April 24^th at Sioux Falls earning the save in a 4-1 win.  He also recorded saves vs. Bemidji State (2/11/24), Thomas More (Ky.) on March 8^th, University of Mary (3/21/24) and at Minnesota Duluth (4/5/24).
            Wayne State is 26-21 overall entering the NSIC Baseball Tournament that starts Wednesday in Bismarck, North Dakota.  The Wildcats are the #5 seed and face #4 seed St. Cloud State Wednesday at 12 p.m.