SEARCY – Harding University senior designated hitter Will McDonald earned 1st Team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VI honors Friday, becoming the third Bison in the last three seasons to capture the award. Ryan Moody was honored in 2009 and Wisley Correa in 2008. Both were 2nd Team honorees.
Harding's last 1st Team Academic All-District honoree was Jake Kirby in 2003.
McDonald, a native of Jackson, Tenn., and 2006 graduate of Jackson Christian School, played in 35 games this season for the Bisons, starting 29. He had 19 hits on the season, including four doubles and a triple, scored 14 runs and drove in 13. McDonald also walked 19 times and stole five bases.
McDonald played 137 games in his four-year career at Harding, starting 103. He finished his career tied for seventh in career triples with six.
An accounting major, McDonald will receive his degree during Saturday's graduation ceremonies. He has a 3.66 grade point average.
The ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District teams are voted on by the district's sports information directors. District VI includes NCAA II, NCAA III, and NAIA schools in Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Mississippi.
