Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | April 11-17
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top athletes from April 11 through 17. Sports Information Directors from the league institutions nominate student-athletes for the awards and vote on each week’s winners.
Baseball Player of the Week
Eli MacDonald, Bethel
MacDonald helped Bethel to four wins in six outings with a .565 average and 10 runs batted in. The infielder also posted three doubles, one home run and turned in multi-hit performances at the plate in five games, while hitting safely in all six contests.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Damien Wallace, Marian
Wallace fanned 14 batters over nine innings in Marian’s 5-2 win at Huntington. The sophomore allowed four walks and three hits in the complete-game gem, picking up the win on the bump for MU.
Softball Player of the Week
Miranda Wehrle, Indiana Wesleyan
Wehrle highlighted No. 8 IWU’s 7-1 week with a .471 batting average, nine runs scored, three doubles, three home runs and 22 runs batted in for the Wildcat offense. Wehrle had a trio of four-hit games and only struck out four times in 34 at bats.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Alyssa Wagner, Indiana Wesleyan
Wagner yielded just six earned runs in four games for No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan, going 4-0 in the circle with a 1.91 ERA over 22 innings of work. In those 22 innings, Wagner piled up 30 strikeouts and allowed just 12 hits.
Women’s Outdoor TF Track Athlete of the Week
Erin Oleksak, Marian
Oleksak logged a trio of top-five showings for Marian at the Indiana Tech Invite. Oleksak finished second in the 100-hurdles, third in the 4×100-meter relay and fifth in the 200-meters, while hitting the NAIA-A standard in the 100-hurdles and 4×100-relay.
Women’s Outdoor TF Field Athlete of the Week
Arriana Benjamin, Marian
Benjamin stole the show in the shot put for Marian at the Indian Tech Invite, unleashing the best throw in the event this season among NAIA individuals. Benjamin’s distance of 15.05 meters was also good for a new MU program record.
Men’s Outdoor TF Track Athlete of the Week
Dylan Felger, Huntington
Felger topped the field in each of his individual events at the Huntington Invite. The senior scored wins on his home track in the 200 and 400-meters for the Foresters.
Men’s Outdoor TF Field Athlete of the Week
Liam Hesting, Taylor
Hesting finished first or second in each of his three throwing events for Taylor at the Huntington Invite. Hesting topped the field and qualified for NAIA Nationals in the hammer throw, while adding second-place efforts in the shot put and discus.
Women’s Golfer of the Week
Nicole Jung, Taylor
Jung played in five rounds last week for No. 19 Taylor, firing four rounds of 78 and better, including a 72 in round one of her individual win at the Pilot Invitational. For the week, Jung posted a scoring average of 76.8.
Men’s Golfer of the Week
Bryce Turner, Saint Francis
Turner won the Sagamore Shootout, hosted by Indiana Wesleyan with a two-round total of 143. Turner opened strong for Saint Francis, carding a 66 in the opening round of the event to set the tone.