Rochester, MN –
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference has announced the MCAC Softball Pitchers and Players-of-the-Week for the week of April 19 - 25.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Sunny Strait earned the MCAC South Division Pitcher-of-the-Week award for the fourth week in a row after going 2-0 in her two outings and only giving up 3 earned runs while striking out 15. Teammate Emma Bright claimed the MCAC South Division Player-of-the-Week honor following her 13 for 17 plate performance and stealing 5 bases on her five attempts last week.
For the MCAC North Division, Central Lakes College pitcher Jenna Gratz put together an impressive final 6 innings of work, limiting Northland to no earned runs and securing the team's win to earn the MCAC North Division Pitcher-of-the-Week honor. Not to be outdone, her teammate Katie Johnson takes the MCAC North Division Player-of-the-Week award with her .571 batting average and 1.000 slugging percentage throughout the week.
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South DivisionPitcher- and Player-of-the-Week |
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Sunny Strait Sophomore / Pitcher Minnetonka, MN
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Sweeping through MCAC opponents has become second nature for Anoka-Ramsey's Sunny Strait. The Minnetonka, MN sophomore had another great week in the circle to pick up her fourth straight MCAC South Division Pitcher-of-the-Week honor. Strait started two games pitching 11 innings, scattering 5 hits, and striking out 15. She gave up 3 runs and ended the week with a 1.90 ERA while walking only 2 batters. Strait also went 11 for 15 at the plate hitting 4 homers and driving in 13 RBI. She continues to lead the nation in home runs with 13. The Golden Rams are now 11-4 on the season and 5-1 in division play. They return to the field on Friday, April 30 at Minnesota West.
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Emma Bright Freshman / CF Anoka, MN
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The fastest 60-foot runner in NJCAA Division III Softball this year is Emma Bright from Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Bright, the speedy freshman from Anoka, MN, continues to steal bases at a pace that may be uncatchable by the end of the season. Stealing 5 bases this week on 5 attempts keeps her leading the nation in stolen bases on the year (24). Running isn't all that Bright does well though as she went 13 for 17 from the plate with 4 doubles, 3 triples, and scored 7 runs for her Golden Rams. Bright is this week's MCAC South Division Player-of-the-Week.
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North DivisionPitcher and Player-of-the-Week |
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Jenna Gratz Freshman / Pitcher Oregon, WI |
Jenna Gratz, freshman pitcher at Central Lakes College, picks up her first MCAC North Division Pitcher-of-the-Week award in her one extra inning appearance last week. In her 9 innings of complete game work, Gratz had an ERA of 2.33, striking out 7 and giving up only 5 hits. She also got 2 hits herself, scoring 4 runs and stealing base twice. Gratz has led her Raider team to a 6-9 overall record and 4-2 in divisional play. The Raiders resume play on Thursday, April 29 at Hibbing Community College.
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Katie Johnson Freshman / 1B Verndale, MN
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Katie Johnson, Central Lake College's freshman first basewoman from Verndale, MN, claims the MCAC North Division Player-of-the-Week award. Johnson went 4 for 7 at the plate, driving in 2 runs while hitting a triple and a double. She had a 1.000 slugging percentage on the week and a .571 batting average. Johnson leads her team onto the field again on Thursday, April 29 at Hibbing Community College. Central Lake's is 6-9 overall and 4-2 in division play.
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Keep tabs on Conference leaders at the following links:
MCAC Statistical Leaders: https://mcacsports.org/sports/sball/2020-21/leaders
MCAC Standings: https://mcacsports.org/sports/sball/2020-21/standings
This release sponsored by:
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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.