Tournament champion Vikings headline UMAC baseball awards
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Following a first-ever Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) share of the regular season baseball championship and tournament title, Bethany Lutheran College topped the conference postseason awards list with three of the top four honors while Cory Albertson of the University of Wisconsin-Superior was named the Player of the Year, the UMAC announced Tuesday.
Ryan Kragh was selected by his peers as UMAC Coach of the Year after leading the Vikings to their storybook season. Senior Cody Leitner earned the Pitcher of the Year nod and first-year Ross Beumer was named the Rookie of the Year.
Under Kragh's direction, the Vikings finished the conference season 14-2 and split their second-to-last series of the season with the College of St. Scholastica to help lock up a first-ever share of the regular season crown. A week later on the same field in Duluth, the Vikings shocked the Saints again taking both must-win games to grab the tournament title and earn the conference's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA tournament. The Vikings are the first team other than the Saints to make a NCAA appearance in baseball.
This season, the Vikings' powerful offense was among some of the best in country. In overall games, the Vikings rank sixth in all of Division III for slugging percentage (.501) and fourth in on-base percentage (0.448). In 13 of their 23 wins the Vikings recorded double-digits in runs scored including five games with more than 15 total runs. In 33 games played, the Vikings were kept off the scoreboard just twice.
In conference games, the Vikings dominated nearly every hitting and pitching category this season. They were first in average (.389), runs (205), hits (223), doubles (48), home runs (24), RBI (177), total bases (327), slugging (.623), hit by pitch (37) and on-base (.494). On the mound, the Vikings' pitching staff was second in the UMAC with a earned run average (ERA) of 4.12 and two shutouts.
As dominant as the Vikings were as a team, Albertson of Wisconsin-Superior was easily the most dominant individual player in the UMAC. The sophomore had a breakout season at the plate to fuel the Yellowjackets into the postseason for the third-straight year. In conference play, Albertson led the league in average (.481), slugging (1.148) and home runs (10). He also ranked in the top five for runs (25), RBI (24) and on-base (.569) and in the top 10 for hits (26). In overall play, Albertson is among the top players in the nation as he ranks second in home runs per game (0.38), seventh in total home runs (13) and eighth in slugging (.847).
Albertson was also one of the top players in the UMAC infield this season. In 13 conference games played, the sophomore ranked in the top 10 with 102 put outs and 14 assists in 117 chances and just one error. He played all but four of those games at first base with the other four at catcher. He also turned three double plays.
While Albertson made an impact for the Yellowjackets, Beumer also played a solid role within a talented Vikings' lineup in just his first season. The rookie ranked in the top 10 in conference play for average (.463), slugging (.889), on-base (.525), runs (21), hits (25), RBI (20), doubles (8) and home runs (5). In 15 games played, he had also had 54 at bats and was 3-for-3 in stolen bases. He recorded two or more hits in seven conference games and three with four hits.
Beumer led the Vikings in overall hitting and starred offensively, but Leitner was the team's MVP on the mound. In conference play this season, Leitner was among the top 10 in innings pitched (27.2) and allowed just 10 earned runs for a 3.25 ERA. He also struck out 27 batters and allowed a .291 opponent average. He earned two wins over Martin Luther College and North Central University with his only loss coming against St. Scholastica. He led the Vikings in total innings pitched and won three games.
Beumer and Leitner were among 25 total players to claim All-UMAC First-Team honors and two of eight Vikings to claim the award. Leitner and Alex Babcock are both back-to-back First Team selections highlighting the Vikings' accolades. Steven Neutzling of St. Scholastica is the only player to have earned more than two all-conference nods as he was a First Team pick in each of his four seasons and was the 2017 Player of the Year and 2015 Rookie of the Year.
In addition to Babcok, Leitner and Neutzling, Anthony Corrado (Northland College) and Joey Zwak (St. Scholastica) are the only other players to repeat as First Team selections this season. Nathan Ehnstrom (University of Northwestern) and Carson Ferry (Northland) were both First Team picks this season and in 2016. Ehnstrom is also the only player to be voted First Team at multiple positions (utility and pitcher).
Six other players were selected First Team after being Honorable Mention at least on other time in their careers including Albertson, Nick Caldeen (Bethany Lutheran), Drew Colvard (St. Scholastica), Joe Gonrowski (St. Scholastica), Kevin Harris (Bethany Lutheran) and Cory Kukkola (North Central).
Each year the UMAC recognizes the team sportsmanship award, an accolade that is selected by the UMAC coaches and awarded to the team that best represented sportsmanship throughout the entire season. North Central University earned the honor for the second-consecutive season. Each team also had one representative on the individual sportsmanship award list.
Player of the Year Award* – Cory Albertson, So., Wisconsin-Superior
Pitcher of the Year Award^ – Cody Leitner, Sr., Bethany Lutheran
Rookie of the Year Award# – Ross Beumer, Fy., Bethany Lutheran
Coach of the Year Award – Ryan Kragh, Bethany Lutheran
First-Team UMAC All-Conference
| Name |
Year |
School |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Cory Albertson* |
So. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Infield |
Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater |
| Alex Babcock |
Sr. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Pitcher |
Ramsey, Minn./Elk River |
| Matt Baehman |
Jr. |
Martin Luther |
Infield |
Neenah, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran |
| Braeden Barr |
Jr. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Utility |
San Diego, Calif./Grossmount |
| Grant Becher |
So. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Infield |
Wells, Minn./United South Central |
| Ross Beumer# |
Fy. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Outfield |
Northfield, Minn./Northfield |
| Ben Boran |
Jr. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Infield |
Waterville, Minn./Waterville-Elysian-Morristown |
| Nick Caldeen |
Jr. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Catcher |
Blaine, Minn./Blaine |
| Drew Colvard |
Sr. |
St. Scholastica |
Outfield |
Little Canada, Minn./Roseville |
| Anthony Corrado |
Sr. |
Northland |
Utility |
Joliet, Ill./Minooka Community |
| Nathan Ehnstrom |
Sr. |
Northwestern |
Pitcher, Utility |
Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin |
| Carson Ferry |
Jr. |
Northland |
Pitcher |
Paw Paw, Mich./Homeschool |
| Jackson Gessell |
Sr. |
Minnesota Morris |
Outfield |
Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids |
| Joe Gonrowski |
Sr. |
St. Scholastica |
Pitcher |
Elk River, Minn./Elk River |
| Kevin Harris |
Sr. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Infield |
El Paso, Texas/Santa Teresa |
| Aaron Krahn |
Jr. |
Northwestern |
Outfield |
Roseau, Minn./Roseau |
| Cory Kukkola |
Jr. |
North Central |
Infield |
Fountain Hills, Ariz./Fountain Hills |
| Cody Leitner^ |
Sr. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Pitcher |
Red Wing, Minn./Red Wing |
| Carlton Lindow |
Fy. |
Northwestern |
Catcher |
Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls |
| Steven Neutzling |
Sr. |
St. Scholastica |
Outfield |
St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral |
| Logan Nissen |
So. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Pitcher |
Olivia, Minn./B.O.L.D. |
| Jake Turner |
Sr. |
St. Scholastica |
Pitcher |
Duluth, Minn./Duluth East |
| Aaron Weber |
So. |
St. Scholastica |
Infield |
Sauk Rapids, Minn./Pierz |
| Phillip Wall |
Fy. |
Northwestern |
Pitcher |
Juneau, Alaska/IDEA |
| Joey Zwak |
So. |
St. Scholastica |
Infield |
Duluth, Minn./Duluth East |
UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention
| Name |
Year |
School |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Adrian Bethel |
Fy. |
Northland |
Outfield |
Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial |
| Seth Betts |
Fy. |
Crown |
Catcher |
St. George, Utah/Desert Hills |
| Matt Boyde |
Jr. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Outfield |
Chanhassen, Minn./Minnetonka |
| Caleb Christopher |
So. |
Martin Luther |
Outfield |
Sharpsburg, Ga./Michigan Lutheran Seminary |
| Steven De Silva |
Fy. |
North Central |
Outfield |
Mililani, Hawaii/Waipahu |
| Gideon Dunn |
Sr. |
Crown |
Pitcher |
Tampa, Fla./Steinbrenner |
| Thomas Eckstein |
Jr. |
Minnesota Morris |
Utility |
Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo |
| Jakob Freele |
Sr. |
Northland |
Outfield |
Grass Valley, Calif./Nevada Union |
| Dan Hansen |
So. |
St. Scholastica |
Pitcher |
Brooklyn Center, Minn./Park Center |
| Michael Head |
So. |
Minnesota Morris |
Pitcher |
Kasson, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville |
| Mylo Hommes |
So. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Outfield |
Elk River, Minn./Elk River |
| Jonathon Kutzke |
So. |
North Central |
Pitcher |
Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids |
| Diego Martiarena |
Jr. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Outfield |
Mexico City, Mexico/Colegio de Bachilleres |
| Nick McNosky |
Sr. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Infield |
Minneapolis, Minn./De La Salle |
| Carter Michaelson |
So. |
Northwestern |
Pitcher |
South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul |
| Wyatt Morrell |
Fy. |
Northwestern |
Infield |
Elk River, Minn./Homeschool |
| Jake Sande |
So. |
St. Scholastica |
Pitcher |
Hayward, Wis./Hayward |
| Dillon Solomon |
Jr. |
Martin Luther |
Outfield |
Troy, Mich./Michigan Lutheran Seminary |
UMAC Sportsmanship Awards
Team Award – North Central
Bethany Lutheran – John Brown, Sr., Lake City, Minn./Lincoln Seminary
Crown – Tanner Pruett, Sr., Newman, Calif./Orestimba
Martin Luther – Karl Kuschel, Sr., Mukwango, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran
Minnesota Morris – Jordan Steffer, Sr., Howard Lake, Minn./Howard Lake-Waverly
North Central – Michael Nolte, So., Austin, Texas/Homeschool
Northland – Alex Loberger, Sr., Maribel, Wis./Denmark
Northwestern – Nathan Ehnstrom, Sr., Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin
St. Scholastica – Grant Rindal, Sr., Superior, Wis./Superior
Wisconsin-Superior – Brady Stocker, Sr., River Falls, Wis./River Falls