GREENSBORO, N.C. -- A day after earning ABCA/Rawlings Division II Gold Glove honors, University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball senior infielder
Jacob Steele earned another defensive accolade as he was named an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) NCAA Division II Central Region All-Defensive Team third baseman.
A senior from St. Peter's, Mo., Steele, an ABCA/Rawlings Second Team All-American and the 2025 MIAA Co-Player of the Year, led Central Missouri with a .373 batting average in 61 games, helping UCM to its 31st MIAA Regular Season Championship, 21st NCAA Division II Central Regional Title, and a National Runners-Up showing at the NCAA Division II College World Series in 2025. He compiled 94 hits, 82 runs, 18 doubles, three triples, 13 homers, 64 RBI, a .623 slugging percentage, 31 walks, a .476 on-base percentage, and 12 stolen bases on the season.
Defensively, Steele was outstanding in the "hot corner", committing just two errors on 182 chances for an impressive .989 fielding percentage, while tallying 72 putouts, 108 assists, and helping turn 10 double plays in his 61 games.
The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the
ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America & Coach of the Year Committee.
About the ABCA
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 41 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.
| 2025 ABCA Central Region All-Defensive Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Luis Ayala |
Sr. |
Fort Hays State |
KS |
| 1B |
Cade Cancilla |
Sr. |
Arkansas Monticello |
AR |
| 2B |
Andrew Ramirez |
Jr. |
Rogers State |
OK |
| 3B |
Jacob Steele |
Sr. |
Central Missouri |
MO |
| SS |
Rickey Sanchez |
Sr. |
Pittsburg State |
KS |
| OF |
Nolan Drossel |
So. |
Sioux Falls |
SD |
| OF |
Ashton Neuman |
Gr. |
Northwest Missouri |
MO |
| OF |
Jason Axelberg |
Sr. |
Augustana |
SD |
| P |
Caden Bressler |
Sr. |
Washburn |
KS |
