Taylor’s Crabtree Recognized as NAIA National Pitcher of the Week

Crabtree Recognized as NAIA National Pitcher of the Week

KANSAS CITY – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its eighth installment of national awards for the 2022-2023 baseball season on Tuesday, when Trojan freshman, Nick Crabtree, was honored as the NAIA National Pitcher of the Week.

Crabtree was singularly recognized among a pool of 20 pitchers from across the nation, now the second Trojan pitcher in as many years to receive the national award. Luke Shively earned the honor in 2022, though he was the only TU pitcher to do so since Eric Cartman received the award in 2014, so Crabtree has now become just the third Trojan to be named the NAIA National Pitcher of the Week in nearly a decade.

The national honor comes just one day after Crabtree was crowned the Crossroads League Pitcher of the Week. Crabtree’s award-winning stat line included two wins in a pair of appearances out of the pen, totaling six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit in tandem with 11 strikeouts.

TU’s freshman lefty was especially crucial in its series-opening victory over rival RV Indiana Wesleyan on Friday, April 14, completing three-straight scoreless frames after the Wildcats had scored seven runs in the previous two innings.

Crabtree has made the second-most appearances on the mound for Taylor this year with a total of 14. In his last 15-and-two-thirds-innings of work, Crabtree has allowed just three runs on seven hits. Meanwhile, TU’s stellar freshman has racked up a total in 19 strikeouts in that same stretch of play.

Taylor athletes now boast a total of four NAIA National Athlete-of-the-Week honors in 2022-2023.

Crabtree and the RV Trojans (31-11, 24-4 CL) will look to extend their eight-game winning streak when they host Marian (14-22, 8-16 CL) at Winterholter Field on Thursday, April 20, at 3:00 pm.