Bryce Ball was named a First Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) on Wednesday.  Ball, a junior from Mason City, Iowa, hit .325 and led the Missouri Valley Conference in both home runs (18) and RBI (54).  His 18 home runs this year also ranks as the fifth most in a single-season in DBU's Division I era, dating back to when the Patriots joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 2004.

With today's announcement, Ball joins teammate MD Johnson as the second player from DBU in 2019 to receive All-American honors.  Johnson was tabbed a Third Team All-American by Perfect Game earlier on Wednesday.

Ball becomes the 18th player from DBU to be named an All-American and is the first player to receive All-American recognition as a designated hitter.