Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | April 28-May 4
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top individual performances from April 28 through May 4. 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
Zach Bale, Marian
Bale did his best to keep Marian alive in the Crossroads League Tournament, hitting .615 with five extra-base hits and seven runs batted in over MU’s three showings. The junior mixed in two home runs and three doubles for a 1.308 slugging percentage on the week.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Brock Buckley, Indiana Wesleyan
Buckley got Indiana Wesleyan’s Crossroads League Tournament run going with a seven-inning shutout in the Wildcats’ 10-0 win over MVNU. Buckley fanned nine and yielded just four hits and one walk in the seven-inning, run-rule win.
Softball Player of the Week
Abbey Hofmann, Marian
Hofmann hit .750 as Marian’s leadoff hitter during the team’s undefeated charge through the Crossroads League Tournament. Hofmann had hits in six of her eight at bats, scored seven times and stole two bases to ignite the offense for the Knights.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Olivia Stunkel, Marian
Stunkel secured wins in each of MU’s three Crossroads League Tournament games, going 3-0 with 11 strikeouts in her 17 innings of work. The senior tossed back-to-back complete games against No. 12 Indiana Wesleyan to power MU to the title.
Women’s Outdoor TF Track Athlete of the Week
Hanna Reuter, Marian
Reuter led Marian to the team title by scoring individual wins in the 200, 400 and 4×100-meter relay. Reuter set CL Championship records in the 200 and 400 and was named the Most Valuable Performer of the meet.
Women’s Outdoor TF Field Athlete of the Week
Kiana Siefert, Taylor
Siefert took home the long jump title at the Crossroads League Championships and also finished top-three in the triple jump and 100-meter hurdles to account for 22 points for Taylor at the league meet.
Men’s Outdoor TF Track Athlete of the Week
Dean Reynolds, Spring Arbor
Reynolds led the Cougars at the Crossroads League Championships with a pair of NAIA standards and two top-three efforts. Reynolds won the 1,500-meters with a B-standard time and helped SAU take third with an A-standard time in the 4×800-meter relay.
Men’s Outdoor TF Field Athlete of the Week
Christian Rios, Marian
Rios turned in a dominant showing for Marian at the CL Championships, winning the shot put, discus and hammer with A-standards in each event. The senior was named the CL Championships Field MVP for his performance.
Women’s Golfer of the Week
Caroline Gibson, Indiana Wesleyan
Gibson won the individual Crossroads League Championship by shooting successive rounds of 80, 77 and 72 over the two-day tournament. Gibson’s even-par final round score helped the senior secure the individual title by one stroke.