SAINT PETER, Minn. – Bryce Novak (Jr., Cleveland) of Gustavus baseball has been selected to the D3baseball.com 2022 Preseason All-America Second Team.
Novak, who was named D3baseball.com All-America Third Team last June, led the Gusties and the MIAC with a .470 batting average in 2021, batting 63-for-134 with 33 runs, 10 doubles, three triples, three home runs, and 21 RBI. Novak’s .470 batting average was the sixth-highest single season average in program history. Novak, who was also named the MIAC Player of the Year, set the conference record for hits in a season with 41 in league games only. He led the league with a .500 on-base percentage, while his .657 slugging percentage was fifth in the conference. In 144 plate appearances, Novak struck out just eight times. Primarily playing center field, Novak did not commit a single error with 29 putouts and eight assists for a 1.000 fielding percentage. Novak also pitched 25 innings with five starts, boasting a 2.16 ERA and 3-1 record with 21 strikeouts compared to 10 walks and a .184 opponents’ batting average.