Jason Ciz inducted into Hall of Fame

by Nick Huntimer, DSU Sports

Information Director

Jason Ciz was inducted into the Dakota State University Athletics Hall of Fame on June, 5, 2021 in Madison, South Dakota. Jason was one of the top pitchers for the DSU Trojan baseball teams in the mid-to-late 2000s. He was the first DSU athlete to be named Dakota Athletic All-Conference four consecutive years (two times as First team in 2005 and 2008; two times as Second Team in 2006 and 2007). 

Ciz came to Dakota State University in the 2004-2005 season, igniting the Trojans to their second NAIA Region III Tournament Championships in three years. He finished that season with an impressive 10-2 record with an earned run average (ERA) of 2.03, tossing 82 2/3 innings in 14 games played--12 of those he started. He defeated perennial baseball powerhouse Jamestown, North Dakota in NAIA Region III Tournament as a freshman by pitching a 7-hit, 3-run complete game. During the game he struck out five batters, while only issuing one walk. 

He was named to the NAIA Baseball All-American Honorable Mention team in 2005. That season, he tied the school single season record of 10 victories.

Ciz added seven pitching wins with an ERA of 3.66 in 2006. That season, the Trojans went 34-16 overall and finished runner-up in the Dakota Athletic Conference’s postseason tournament. He worked a total of 64 innings that season. 

He followed that year with back-to-back 4-2 pitching records in 2007 and 2008 for DSU. .He recorded an ERA of 2.98 (51 1/3 innings) in 2007 and 3.81 (59 innings) in 2008. He was a key asset to the 2007 DSU Trojan baseball team that established a school record of 39 victories. That Trojan squad started the season with a 22-game winning streak and achieved the highest NAIA ranking in school history at No.7. 

Ciz surpassed the DSU all-time victories record after defeating Dickinson State University in the second game of the Dakota Athletic Conferences tripleheader on April 7, 2008. Ciz extended his all time-pitching victories to 25 by the end of the 2008 season. That career record still stands today in the DSU baseball record book. He finished his impressive career with a 25-8 record in 257 innings and an ERA of 3.22. Jason is also listed in the DSU record book for most career appearances with 54, most complete games (17), and started in 40 games as a pitcher. He also tied the single-season school record for most shutouts with 2 in 2006. Ciz was listed on the DSU President’s Honor roll 2006-2008. He was a member of the National Honor Society in 2007-2008, as well and received the honor of Who’s Who Among College Students.