STORM LAKE - Buena Vista University junior baseball players, Bryce Rheault and Gage Smart, have been recognized by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) with each landing spots on the All-Central Region First Team as announced Tuesday afternoon.

In addition to being named a First Team selection, Rheault was also tabbed as the region's Position Player of the Year.  He ranked eighth in the region in batting average (.399), first in hits (75) and sixth in stolen bases (24).  Smart led the region in hits allowed per nine innings (3.8), WHIP (0.67), third in appearances (24) and ERA (1.14).

The duo has already landed First Team recognition by D3baseball.com with Smart named a Second Team All-American and Rheault an Honorable Mention selection.  The ABCA All-American teams will be announced on Thursday, May 30.

The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007. 

The Chair of the ABCA NCAA Div. III All-America & Coach of the Year Committee is Paul Hesse of the University of Mount Union. Also on the committee are Derek Carlson (Brandeis University), Dean Glus (The College of New Jersey), Ray Hedrick (Randolph-Macon College), Luke Johnson (North Park University), Scott Laverty (Chapman University), Corey Paluga (Elmira College) and Kevin Tomasiewicz (University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh). 

The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 11,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The 76th annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 2-5, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee.