Miles receives first-team all-academic honors
6/15/2016 10:27:00 AM | Baseball
HUNTSVILLE – The expectations for the Sam Houston State baseball team span well beyond the field. While the program won both the Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles this season, the classroom achievement was equally as impressive.
Sam Houston junior Lance Miles was named a First-Team Southland Conference Baseball All-Academic honoree, the league office announced Wednesday. The second baseman posted a 4.0 grade point average this semester and 3.95 overall while majoring in business.
“Lance embodies what we're looking for and what we expect out of a player,” second-year head coach Matt Deggs said. “We want the total package in guys that are not only a success on the field but off the field. We want leaders not only in the clubhouse and on the field but in the classroom, in the community and elsewhere.”
In order to be considered, each nominee must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA, completed at least one full academic year at the nominating institution prior to the season in which the nomination occurs and have participated in 50 percent of the team's games. The accolade is voted on by the each league school's sports information director, coach and academic advisor.
Miles, who is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, a business international fraternity for juniors in the top-seven percent of their class, was equally as impressive on the diamond. The Woodlands product hit .315 in league games and finished second on the team with 14 multi-hit games.
“No matter what Lance Miles decides to do, whether it's baseball or owning his own company or whatever, he is going to be a smashing success,” Deggs said. “He embodies the definition of student-athlete and that's a well-rounded individual who gets it done in the classroom, on the field and in the community.”
As a team, the Bearkats posted a 3.02 overall GPA during the 2015-16 academic year including a 2.86 GPA in the spring. A total of 15 active members of the Bearkat baseball program produced a 3.0 GPA or higher during the spring semester.
“The way I look at a degree is that it's like a master key,” Deggs said. “Especially a degree from Sam Houston State where there is a gigantic network of successful people that have graduated from here and are hungry and looking to take care of other Bearkats. It's the most important thing they will do here during their time. That's part of our mission as coaches is to make sure we develop men, develop players and make sure they graduate. We take a lot of pride in that.”
A major reason for the team, and athletic department's success academically, is the availability of the Sam Houston Learning Enhancement Center (LEC). The facility is equipped with computers, study tables, seating and support from individuals like Chris Thompson, associate athletic director for Student Services, and Dr. Jessica Payne, assistant athletic director of student services.
“Coach Thompson and Dr. Payne do an incredible job with our student-athletes,” Deggs said. “To have the learning center available to us and to have two people that care so much about the student athletes is not only a giant asset for our program but all of Bearkat athletics. This speaks to the level of support that those two give these guys.”
For Miles, the accolade is the latest in what has been a sensational close to his season. The Woodlands High School product was named to the All-Lafayette Regional Team after hitting .538 (7 for 13) with three RBIs. One week earlier, he was an All-Southland Conference Tournament honoree after batting .381 (8 for 21) with four RBIs and a team-leading 11 total bases in five games.
“I'm really proud of Lance,” Deggs said. “I am not shocked by any stretch. He is a grown man that handles his business and we are very fortunate to have him.”
Including Miles, the squad returns 23 players from a 42-win team next season. The Bearkats believe that success goes hand in hand with classroom achievement.
“The first thing we ever talk about in our team meetings is grades,” Deggs said. “Our expectation will never change. That is you will carry a minimum of 15 hours, you're going to sit in the front three rows and our expectation of you is no absences. Generally, getting it done in the classroom correlates with success on the field.”
2016 Southland Conference Baseball All-Academic Teams
First Team
| Name | University | Class | Hometown | GPA | Major |
| Jameson Fisher^, 1, % | Southeastern Louisiana | Jr. | Zachary, La. | 3.38 | Kinesiology |
| Joe Provenzano1, % | McNeese | So. | Downers Grove, Ill. | 3.75 | Finance |
| Stijn van der Meer1 | Lamar | Sr. | Rosmalen, Netherlands | 3.12 | General Studies |
| Will Hibbs1 | Lamar | Sr. | Friendswood, Texas | 3.73 | Exercise Science |
| Mac Sceroler1 | Southeastern Louisiana | So. | Denham Springs, La. | 3.34 | Management |
| Lance Miles | Sam Houston State | Jr. | The Woodlands, Texas | 3.95 | Business |
| Domenick Carlini | Southeastern Louisiana | Sr. | Nesbit, Miss. | 3.32 | General Studies |
| Kade Granier | Southeastern Louisiana | So. | Destrehan, La. | 3.57 | Kinesiology |
| Kyle Knauth | Nicholls | So. | Slidell, La. | 3.50 | Finance |
| Webb Bobo | Southeastern Louisiana | Jr. | Prattville, Ala. | 3.64 | Kinesiology |
| Brandon Montalvo | Central Arkansas | Sr. | Houston, Texas | 3.72 | Finance |
| Collin Kober2 | McNeese | Jr. | Moss Bluff, La. | 3.48 | Health & Human Performance – Exercise science |
Second Team
| Name | University | Class | Hometown | GPA | Major |
| Kaleb Fontenot | McNeese | Sr. | Ville Platte, La. | 3.17 | Management |
| Connor Crane | McNeese | Sr. | Parker, Colo. | 3.08 | Business Administration |
| Dylan Zarosky | Houston Baptist | Sr. | Cypress, Texas | 3.39 | Finance |
| Gavin Wehby | Nicholls | So. | Pensacola, Fla. | 3.68 | Accounting |
| Zack Gibson | A&M-Corpus Christi | Gr. | League City, Texas | 3.83 | Masters in Public Relations |
| Andrew Alvarez | Houston Baptist | Sr. | Riverside, Calif. | 3.71 | Kinesiology |
| Devin Skaupra | A&M-Corpus Christi | Jr. | Kingswood, Texas | 3.86 | Kinesiology |
| Logan Preston | Central Arkansas | Gr. | Texarkana, Texas | 3.50 | Health Education |
| Jake Nash | Lamar | Sr. | Palestine, Texas | 3.00 | Exercise Science |
| Cort Brinson2 | Northwestern State | Sr. | Hattiesburg, Miss. | 3.20 | Biology |
| Jordan Priddle2 | New Orleans | Sr. | Tallahassee, Fla. | 3.88 | Accounting |
| Lewis Guilbeau | McNeese | Sr. | Austin, Texas | 3.25 | Management |
^2016 Southland Baseball Student-Athlete of the Year
1Automatic Selection
2Two-time all-academic selection
%Capital One Academic All-District
