GREENWOOD, Ind. -- Five members of the Missouri S&T baseball team were named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, as announced Tuesday by the organization. 

 

The CSC Academic All-District Team recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined achievements in competition and in the classroom. To be eligible, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average while meeting participation requirements on the field. 

 

Representing Missouri S&T on this year's Academic All-District Team were Drew Baugus (Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood), Garrett Meyer (Jacksonville, IL/Jacksonville), Bricen Smith (Perry, GA/Mount de Sales Academy), Denton Damgaard (Colorado Springs, CO/Cheyenne Mountain HS) and Dylan Bates (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West). 

 

Baugus earned the honor after appearing in 54 games with 53 starts for the Miners. He posted a .362 batting average with 64 runs scored, which ranked seventh in the GLVC, while collecting 68 hits and 28 RBIs. Defensively, Baugus was perfect in the field with a 1.000 fielding percentage and 134 putouts. He also led the Miners with 34 stolen bases, the second-highest total in the conference. 

 

Meyer started 55 of 56 games played and was one of the conference's most productive offensive players. He hit .337 with a team-leading eight home runs and 68 RBIs, which ranked sixth in the GLVC. Meyer also paced the Miners with 16 doubles while recording 64 hits and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. His 11 sacrifice flies led the GLVC. 

 

Smith started all 55 games for Missouri S&T and led the team with a .374 batting average. He also topped the squad with 76 hits and 65 runs scored, which ranked fifth in the GLVC. Smith added 47 RBIs and 33 stolen bases, which ranked third in the conference, while posting a .977 OPS. 

 

Damgaard appeared in 52 games with 51 starts, batting .345 with 39 RBIs. The first baseman was a key contributor defensively, recording a .988 fielding percentage while leading the team with 311 putouts and adding 21 assists. 

 

Bates represented the Miners on the mound, appearing in 15 games with 11 starts. The right-hander posted a 10-2 record, leading the GLVC in wins, while recording a 3.26 ERA that ranked second in the conference. Bates threw 66.1 innings, struck out 66 batters and tossed one shutout during the season. His strikeout total ranked eighth in the GLVC. 

 

The five selections highlight Missouri S&T's success both on the field and in the classroom during the 2026 season. The Miners combined academic excellence with another strong year on the diamond.