DeJong Unanimous MVC First-Team Scholar-Athlete Honoree

[June 05, 2014]  ST. LOUIS – Illinois State redshirt sophomore second baseman Paul DeJong was the lone unanimous selection on the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Scholar-Athlete First Team, announced by the league office Wednesday.

DeJong, who also received the MVC Elite 18 Award after the Redbirds won their way into the championship game of the 2014 MVC Tournament, has amassed a 3.79 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in bio-chemistry, while starting 54 of ISU’s 55 games.

The Antioch, Ill., native led the Redbirds with a .349 batting average, a .596 slugging percentage and a .430 on-base percentage, including a team-best 48 RBI, 44 runs scored and 76 hits. DeJong also led ISU in doubles (21) and home runs (9), while matching a team-high with three triples. At second base, he earned a .960 fielding percentage.

The criteria for the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team voting parallels the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) standards for Academic All-America voting. Nominees must be starters or important reserves, with at least a 3.20 GPA. Student-athletes must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.

[Text received; JOHN TWORK, ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY]

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