ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced its Player of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s tennis for the week of March 18-24, 2024. The UMAC Player of the Week awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications/sports information staff and selected each week by the latter group.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grady Karges,
Senior, University of Northwestern
Oriska, N.D. / Maple Valley
- Karges had a monster week at the plate to lead the Eagles to a three-game sweep of North Central.
- Went 7-13, scored five runs, and had seven RBI.
- Hit for power during the week finishing with two doubles and a homerun.
- Drew a walk and was 2-2 in stolen base attempts.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Nick Drinken, Senior, University of Northwestern
Randolph, Minn. / Randolph
- Drinken was one out away from history in his only appearance on the mound this past week.
- Took a no hitter against North Central all the way to the final out before an infield single ended his no hit bid.
- Ended the game with a win, a complete game, 7.0 innings, one hit allowed, one walk allowed, zero runs, and 10 strikeouts.
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kate Beer, Junior, University of Northwestern
Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake
- Beer had a huge day at the plate in the Eagles' only game of the week.
- Went 4-4, scored three runs, and had five RBI in the UNW win.
- Hit two doubles in her flawless game at the plate.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Bella Garley, Freshman, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Albuquerque, N.M. / Porter (Tex.)
- Garley got the start in the circle against Northland Saturday.
- Pitched a complete-game shutout against the LumberJills.
- She surrendered just three hits while striking out five, picking up her fourth win of the season.
MEN’S TENNIS NORTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stewart Morrell, Senior, University of Northwestern
Elk River, Minn. / Homeschool
- Morrell went 3-1 over the weekend vs. American Rivers opponents in Iowa.
- Won 6-1, 6-4 at #1 singles and 8-4 at #1 doubles in a win over Simpson.
- At Central, Morrell picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win at #1 singles.
- The senior is now 13-2 in singles matches this season and 11-4 in doubles.
WOMEN’S TENNIS NORTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Annie Orvis, Junior, University of Northwestern
Rochester, Minn / Schaeffer Academy
- Orvis was terrific in wins over Simpson and Central on Saturday, going 4-0 in her matches.
- Against Simpson, the junior won 6-2, 6-4 at #1 singles and 8-2 at #1 doubles.
- In a much tighter team match at Central, Orvis held her own with a 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 win at #1 singles and a convincing, 8-1 win at #1 doubles.
MEN’S TENNIS SOUTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kuda Sandi, Junior, Principia College
Harare, Zimbabwe
- Kuda won both of his matches vs MUW at #4 singles (6-0,6-0) and #3 doubles (8-0) on Saturday without losing a single game.
WOMEN’S TENNIS SOUTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Saray Hernandez Cisneros, Sophomore, Principia College
Puebla, Mexico / Centro Esc Niños Héroes de Chapultepeclora
- Saray, winner in singles and doubles in first conference match, had a Golden Set (when the player does not lose a point) in her first set of her 6-0,6-0 win at #2 Singles.
- She won her doubles decisively only giving up one game.