INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference named Elias Stevens and Michael Gould to the All-Conference First Team on Wednesday while Drake Downing was chosen to the second team. Gould and Downing both earned All-GLVC honors for the first time in their careers. Stevens gets his second all-conference award after a selection to the second team last year.
 
Stevens split time behind the plate and at first base in 2023, hammering 15 home runs with 32 total extra-base hits. The senior posted career-highs in average (.333), hits (60), slugging (.683), and on-base percentage (.441). He broke Maryville's career home run record earlier this season and sits one short of tying the single-season record. Additionally, he picked up GLVC Player of the Week on May 8 after hitting .600 with three home runs in a 3-1 series win over Missouri S&T.
 
In the outfield, Gould hit his stride in 2023 setting a DII-era single-season program record for average (.443), total bases (133), and RBI (63). He additionally clubbed 10 home runs overall and hit .460 in GLVC games. On March 20 he became the GLVC Player of the Week followed two days later by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Midwest Region Hitter of the Week for his performance in a four-game sweep of No. 21 Indianapolis.
 
Drake Downing was also selected to the All-GLVC Second Team after turning into one of the most dependable arms out of the Maryville bullpen. The redshirt sophomore from Waterloo, Ill., posted a 2.55 ERA in 24.2 innings with a pair of wins and a save. He allowed just 22 hits and seven earned runs while striking out 25 and walking only seven. Downing also held opponents to a .239 batting average.
 
The conference selected Trace Berggren as Maryville's GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship honoree. The student-athletes chosen for this award are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. They also must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Berggren is now eligible to become one of their school's two Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners.
 
Maryville baseball begins its GLVC Tournament run with a first-round matchup with Drury University on Thursday, May 11. The first pitch at Mtn Dew Park in Marion, Ill., is set for 12:30 p.m.