Rochester, MN –
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) office has announced the MCAC Baseball Pitchers and Players-of-the-Week for the week of April 12 - 18.
In the MCAC North Division, Zach Nelson of Mesabi Range College threw a complete game scattering 6-hits over 7 innings to earn the pitcher-of-the-week honors, and Rainy River Community College's John Michael Gonzalez Jr. hit a grand slam and put together a .600 batting average for the week to earn the MCAC North Division Player-of-the-Week honors.
Century College's David VanOrt picks up his first MCAC South Division Pitcher-of-the-Week award after tossing a complete game 4-hitter, and Brandon Watkins from Anoka-Ramsey Community College earns the South Division Player-of-the-Week honor after going yard twice and compiling a .750 batting average in games against St. Cloud Technical and Community College and Riverland Community College.
As MCAC teams compile games and statistics, keep tabs on Conference leaders at the following links:
MCAC Statistical Leaders: https://mcacsports.org/sports/bsb/2020-21/leaders
MCAC Standings: https://mcacsports.org/sports/bsb/2020-21/standings
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MCAC North DivisionPitcher & Player of the Week |
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Zach Nelson Fr. / Pitcher Apple Valley, MN
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Zach Nelson, a freshman pitcher from Apple Valley, MN, picked up a win for his Mesabi Range Norse and earned the MCAC North Division Pitcher-of-the-Week award. Nelson threw a complete game in the 4-2 win over Vermilion, scattering six hits and striking out 3. Vermilion could not get an earned run off Nelson and managed to walk only 3 times. In addition, Nelson contributed at the plate batting .667, scoring 4 runs and hitting a home run. Mesabi Range College now has an overall record of 6-15 and are 4-4 in the MCAC North. They take the field again at Anoka-Ramsey on Thursday, April 22.
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John Michael Gonzalez Jr. Fr. / CF Tucson, AZ
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The offensive standout from Rainy River Community College, John Michael Gonzalez Jr., put together an outstanding performance last week to win him the MCAC North Player-of-the-Week honor. Going 6 for 10 at the plate, the freshman from Tucson, AZ hit a grand slam, a double, and drove in 5 RBI while scoring 3 runs himself. In his 13 plate appearances, Gonzalez Jr. reached base on 9 of those, walking 3 times. His final walk was a walk-off free base in the bottom of the 7th inning with bases loaded to win the game for his Voyageurs. Gonzalez Jr.'s defensive efforts mirrored his plate appearance success as he had 11 put outs in the games with a 1.000 fielding percentage. He also robbed Itasca of a home run to end the bottom of the 5th inning in game 3 of the series. Rainy River is 5-16 overall and 3-4 in the MCAC North, and they return to their home field on Wednesday, April 21 to take on M State – Fergus Falls.
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MCAC South DivisionPitcher & Player of the Week |
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David VanOrt So. / Pitcher Stillwater, MN
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David VanOrt, the Century College sophomore hailing from Stillwater, MN, earned the MCAC South Division Pitcher-of-the-Week honor after throwing a complete game 4-hitter against Minnesota West. VanOrt gave up no runs and struck out 9 in his one outing of the week. Century College improved to 15-3-1 on the season and 4-0 in the MCAC South, and they take on St. Cloud Tech on Thursday, April 22 at home.
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Brandon Watkins So. / CF Kenosha, WI |
Brandon Watkins, sophomore centerfielder from Kenosha, WI, helped lead his Anoka-Ramsey Golden Rams to another win last week with his offensive showcase, and he takes home the MCAC South Player-of-the-Week award. Watkins hit .429 with 9 hits including two home runs and a triple, and he scored 6 runs and drove in 5 RBI. He also walked twice. This damage was done against the top 2 teams in the MCAC, St. Cloud Tech and Riverland. Anoka-Ramsey takes a 6-10 overall and 1-3 division record into their next contests on Thursday, April 22 against Mesabi Range College.
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.