Nelson, Sommers Named CSC Academic All-America
CRETE, Neb. – Two members of the historic 2026 Doane baseball team added another prestigious accomplishment to their standout seasons as Tanner Nelson and Grant Sommers were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America® Team.
Nelson was selected to the CSC Academic All-America First Team, while Sommers earned Second Team recognition. The duo become the first Doane baseball players to receive Academic All-America honors since 2021 and continue a season that has been filled with milestones for the Tiger program.
The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined achievements in the classroom and on the field. Student-athletes must be starters or key reserves while maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 and meeting additional athletic and academic criteria to be eligible.
Nelson capped one of the finest offensive seasons in Doane history while serving as the Tigers' everyday catcher. He hit .432, fifth-best in a single season in program history, while collecting 80 hits, 58 RBIs, 13 doubles, two home runs and 30 walks over 55 games. His .507 on-base percentage ranked fifth in school history for a season, while his 80 hits and 58 RBIs both rank fifth on the program's single-season charts. Behind the plate, Nelson handled the pitching staff and finished with 322 putouts during the Tigers' run to the program's first-ever NAIA World Series appearance.
Sommers enjoyed a record-setting campaign at shortstop, batting .388 with 88 hits, 20 doubles, 15 home runs, 62 RBIs, 65 runs scored and 20 stolen bases in 22 attempts. His 88 hits rank second in a single season in school history, while his 15 home runs and 62 RBIs are tied for third. Sommers also finished second in total bases (155), third in runs scored (65) and fourth in assists (142), helping anchor both the Tigers' offense and defense throughout the season.
The pair played instrumental roles in the most successful season in program history as Doane finished with a school-record campaign that included the program's first NAIA World Series appearance and a No. 10 ranking in the final NAIA Top 25 Poll, the highest postseason ranking in school history. Along with their Academic All-America honors, both players were previously recognized as CSC Academic All-District selections and earned All-GPAC honors following the season.
Nelson's First Team selection marks one of the highest academic honors a Doane baseball student-athlete can achieve, while Sommers' Second Team recognition further highlights the Tigers' commitment to excellence in both athletics and academics. Together, the duo become the first Doane baseball Academic All-Americans in five years, adding another chapter to one of the most decorated seasons the program has ever produced.
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