2021 NAIA Baseball Players of the Week

Baseball - Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Aren Gustafson tossed a perfect game with 16 strikeouts

Student-athletes were nominated for their performances and were selected out of a pool of conference and Association of Independent Institutions award winners.


Quick Find: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 


Week 9 (May 5, 2021)

Player of the Week: Cody Muncy, Oklahoma Wesleyan

 

Muncy slugged 1.565 and hit seven home runs in six games last week, including three against Avila (Mo.) in the same game. Additionally, the junior recorded seven RBI in a lopsided win over Tabor (Kan.) on the road.

 

Player Nominees: Kyle O'Brien, Missouri Baptist ; Grant Bodison, CIU (S.C.) ; Michael Avilucea, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) ; Brock Ephan, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) ; Michael Moralez, Trinity Christian (Ill.) ; Daniel Lichty, Huntington (Ind.) ; Joey Grabanski, Concordia (Neb.) ; Zackary Keller, Park (Mo.) ; Griffin Keller, Georgia Gwinnett ; Zach Sanders, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) ; Jorun Hamre, Valley City State (N.D.) ; Gavy Perez-torres, Southwest (N.M.) ; Walker Paris, Asbury (Ky.) ; Justice Lucas, Faulkner (Ala.) ; Tim Bouchard, Keiser (Fla.) ; Braden Nawrocki, Aquinas (Mich.)

 

 

Pitcher of the Week: Aren Gustafson, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)

 

Gustafson made history at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) by recording the first perfect game in school history in a seven-inning effort against Calumet (Ind.). The junior recorded 16 strikeouts of 21 batters faced.

 

Pitcher Nominees: Chris Wall, Columbia (Mo.) ; Nate Moretz, St. Andrews (N.C.) ; Evan Appenzeller, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) ; Trask Telesmanich, Oregon Tech ; Andrew Noelker, Marian (Ind.) ; Jake Fosgett, Concordia (Neb.) ; Trey Clark, Xavier (La.) ; Nick Merkel, Central Methodist (Mo.) ; Tanner Olmstead, Southwestern (Kan.) ; Alex Huey, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) ; Reed Butz, Valley City State (N.D.) ; Sebastian Selway, LSU Shreveport (La.) ; Nicholas Beardsley, Point Park (Pa.) ; Ricardo Velez, Science & Arts (Okla.) ; Antonio Frias, Faulkner (Ala.) ; Pablo Arevalo, Keiser (Fla.) ; Charles Dunavan, Indiana Tech


 

Week 8 (April 27, 2021)

Player of the Week: Brock Ephan, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)

 

Ephan slugged 1.438 over thr course of a four-game series with College of Idaho. The senior hit four home runs and drove-in 11.

 

Player Nominees: Hunter Hill, Missouri Baptist ; Jacob Justice, Bryan (Tenn.) ; Connor Lane, Providence Christian (Calif.) ; Tyler Hedman, Saint Xavier (Ill.) ; Tanner Killian, Indiana Wesleyan ; Roy Verdejo, The Master's (Calif.) ; Trey Nichols, Midland (Neb.) ; Joshuan Sandoval, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) ; John Batista, Fisher (Mass.) ; Holland Boan, Ottawa (Kan.) ; Bryan Leef, Cumberlands (Ky.) ; Skylar Forst, Mayville State (N.D.) ; Payton Robertson, LSU Shreveport (La.) ; Matt Monahan, Indiana Southeast (Ind.) ; Bryson Lierle, Oklahoma City ; Sloan Dieter, William Carey (Miss.) ; Clint Sellers, USC Beaufort (S.C.) ; Adrian Reed, Madonna (Mich.)

 

 

Pitcher of the Week: Graham Cahill, Bellevue (Neb.)

 

Cahill recorded a seven-inning no-hitter against Presentation (S.D.) in a week that he didn't allow a single hit in two outings. In his first outing of the week, he went 3.1 innings and struckout four with no hits.

 

Pitcher Nominees: Marcelo Terrazas, Lyon (Ark.) ; Kobe Foster, Tennessee Wesleyan ; Nico Portillo, Providence Christian (Calif.) ; Trask Telesmanich, Oregon Tech ; Ethan Underwood, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) ; Tanner Gaff, Saint Francis (Ind.) ; Kameron Quitno, The Master's (Calif.) ; Jake Fosgett, Concordia (Neb.) ; Blair Frederick, Xavier (La.) ; Daniel Castillo, Peru State (Neb.) ; Mike Selleck, Tabor (Kan.) ; Isaac Olson, Georgetown (Ky.) ; Austin Manuel, LSU Alexandria (La.) ; Renton Poole, IU Kokomo (Ind.) ; Colton Williams, Science & Arts (Okla.) ; Benjamin Harris, Brewton-Parker (Ga.) ; James Reynolds, Keiser (Fla.) ; Jacob Henry, Concordia (Mich.)


 

Week 7 (April 20, 2021)

Player of the Week: Luis Vargas, Wayland Baptist (Texas)

 

Vargas clubbed six home runs and recorded 13 RBI over the course of five games for Wayland Baptist (Texas), including a three home run day against Oklahoma City.

 

Player Nominees: Tommy Patrick Jr., Missouri Baptist ; Gabe Austin, CIU (S.C.) ; Orlando Lorduy, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) ; Justin Tow, Corban (Ore.) ; Alec Spang, Judson (Ill.) ; Joe Moran, Taylor (Ind.) ; Isaiah Lee, Vanguard (Calif.) ; Tucker Catlett, Doane (Neb.) ; Daunte Freeman, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) ; Cody Muncy, Oklahoma Wesleyan ; Josh Sears, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) ; Michael Theisen, Mayville State (N.D.) ; Ryne Ray, LSU Shreveport (La.) ; Clay Woeste, Indiana Southeast (Ind.) ; Sloan Dieter, William Carey (Miss.) ; Tyler Brown, Warner (Fla.) ; Spenser Mcghee, Indiana Tech

 

 

Pitcher of the Week: Hunter Hoffman, Indiana Wesleyan

 

Hoffman was electric in two starts for the Wildcats. The freshman racked-up 18 strikeouts in 14 innnings over the course of two outings. 

 

Pitcher Nominees: Chris Wall, Columbia (Mo.) ; Irving Martin, Tennessee Wesleyan ; Malik Binns, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) ; Austin Van Horne, College of Idaho ; Angel Sandoval, St. Francis (Ill.) ; Anthony Quattrocchi, Ottawa (Ariz.) ; Blake Svoboda, Mount Marty (S.D.) ; Jhon Vargas, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) ; Kaden Sitzman, Kansas Wesleyan ; Mychal Grogan, Thomas More (Ky.) ; Carson Dobias, Presentation (S.D.) ; Hunter Meche, LSU Alexandria (La.) ; Renton Poole, IU Kokomo (Ind.) ; Ricardo Velez, Science & Arts (Okla.) ; J.c. Toro, Faulkner (Ala.) ; Blaize Minick, USC Beaufort (S.C.) ; Travis Keys, Aquinas (Mich.)


 

Week 6 (April 13, 2021)

Player of the Week: Kenny Piper, Columbia (Mo.)

 

Piper slugged 2.188 over the course of four games last week and went 13-16 at the plate. The senior hit five home runs, three in a single game, and racked-up 14 RBI.

 

Player Nominees: Jacob Justice, Bryan (Tenn.) ; Michael Garverick, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) ; Brock Ephan, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) ; Shawn Harper, St. Francis (Ill.) ; Aaron Saal, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) ; Tony Monroy, Hope International (Calif.) ; Talon Little, Doane (Neb.) ; Travis McFarland, Clarke (Iowa) ; Nate Finney, Crowley's Ridge (Ark.) ; Rylan Cratsenberg, Ottawa (Kan.) ; Tyler Stokes, Cumberland (Tenn.) ; Derrick Calvillo, Dickinson State (N.D.) ; Zach Lee, Houston-Victoria (Texas) ; Walker Paris, Asbury (Ky.) ; Parker Henderson, Southwestern Christian (Okla.) ; Alex Arauz, Faulkner (Ala.) ; Nick Bottari, Southeastern (Fla.) ; Jay Denman, Lourdes (Ohio)

 

 

Pitcher of the Week: Jared Davis, Texas A&M Texarkana

 

Davis recorded a seven inning no-hitter last week against No. 21 Our Lady of the Lake (Texas).

 

Pitcher Nominees: Josh Sieglitz, Missouri Baptist ; Jacob Hallmark, Bryan (Tenn.) ; Eric Chavarria, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) ; Tom Jager, Roosevelt (Ill.) ; Alex McCutcheon, Huntington (Ind.) ; Anthony Quattrocchi, Ottawa (Ariz.) ; Jacob Wesselmann, Briar Cliff (Iowa) ; Jonathan Horn, Grand View (Iowa) ; Corbett Seib, Crowley's Ridge (Ark.) ; Austen Seidel, Tabor (Kan.) ; Cohen Achen, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) ; Jacob Scully, Dickinson State (N.D.) ; Zach Kendall, Rio Grande (Ohio) ; Ricardo Velez, Science & Arts (Okla.) ; Bailey Sellers, Mobile (Ala.) ; Christian Camacho, Southeastern (Fla.) ; Hayes Sturtsman, Indiana Tech


 

Week 5 (April 6, 2021)

Player of the Week: Colton Harold, Northwestern (Iowa)

 

Colton slugged 1.667 over four games as he powered the Northwestern (Iowa) offense to a 3-1 weekend. Harold hit four home runs and recorded 13 RBI as he batted .667.

 

Player Nominees: Kyle O'Brien, Missouri Baptist ; Gary Mattis Jr., Tennessee Wesleyan ; Shane Ogata, Simpson (Calif.) ; Matt James, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) ; Cole Aughenbaugh, St. Ambrose (Iowa) ; Satchell Wilson, Huntington (Ind.) ; Robert Mattei, Hope International (Calif.) ; Jose Fulgencio, Xavier (La.) ; Sam Derks, Park (Mo.) ; Ryan Kouba, Oklahoma Wesleyan ; Tyler Robb, Martin Methodist (Tenn.) ; Dustin Mertz, Valley City State (N.D.) ; Kody Kolb, LSU Shreveport (La.) ; Ed Pfluger, Point Park (Pa.) ; Cross Factor, Oklahoma City ; Justice Lucas, Faulkner (Ala.) ; Jose Marcano, Southeastern (Fla.) ; Jordan Wenzel, Cornerstone (Mich.)

 

 

Pitcher of the Week: Ricardo Velez, Science & Arts (Okla.)

 

Velez racked-up 15 strikeouts and only recorded a single walk in his seven-inning no-hitter. The senior didn't allow a hit in either of his two outings, including a one-inning appearance against LSU Shreveport (La.). 

 

Pitcher Nominees: Matthew Hess, Missouri Baptist ; Davis O'brien, St. Andrews (N.C.) ; Zack Simon, Corban (Ore.) ; Michael Dudek, St. Ambrose (Iowa) ; Tanner Gaff, Saint Francis (Ind.) ; Izzy Fuentes, Hope International (Calif.) ; Gates Johnson, Hastings (Neb.) ; Connor Crabill, Clarke (Iowa) ; Tyler Clayton, Georgia Gwinnett ; Oscar Sanchez, Kansas Wesleyan ; Colton Easterwood, Cumberlands (Ky.) ; Corey Jackson, Bellevue (Neb.) ; Jordan Johnson, Texas A&M Texarkana ; Nicholas Beardsley, Point Park (Pa.) ; Garrett Martin, Middle Georgia State ; Rafael Fernandez, Florida Memorial ; Tyson Kleinfelter, Concordia (Mich.)


 

Week 4 (March 30, 2021)

Player of the Week: Dylan Jacob, Saint Katherine (Calif.)

 

Jacob slugged 1.462 over the course of three games. He went 16-3 at the plate scoring three home runs and recording six RBI's

 

Player Nominees: Steven Stewart, Central Baptist (Ark.) ; Evan Juniper, Kentucky Christian ; Brock Ephan, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) ; Josh Tesch, St. Francis (Ill.) ; Aaron Saal, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) ; Daniel Netz, Westmont (Calif.) ; Andy Theiler, Doane (Neb.) ; Jeffry Roldan, Talladega (Ala.) ; Adrian Martinez, Central Methodist (Mo.) ; Holland Boan, Ottawa (Kan.) ; Pablo Custodio, Cumberland (Tenn.) ; Jt Reed, Valley City State (N.D.) ; Hunter Reid, Texas A&M Texarkana ; Matt Monahan, Indiana Southeast (Ind.) ; Greyson Barrett, Texas Wesleyan ; Zachary Presnall, Mobile (Ala.) ; Mason Dinesen, Keiser (Fla.) ; Yeshua Saint, Indiana Tech 

 

 

Pitcher of the Week: Chris Wall, Columbia (Mo.)

 

Wall recorded 16 total strikeouts in the seven-inning no-hitter against Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) giving him the win on the week. 

 

Pitcher Nominees: Jared Drayton, Montreat (N.C.) ; Kyle Huett, Saint Katherine ; Trent Sellers, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) ; Evan Liebau, Judson (Ill.) ; Luke Shively, Taylor (Ind.) ; Gavin Velasquez, Hope International (Calif.) ; Dru Fitz, Jamestown (N.D.) ; Michael Kruse, Benedictine (Kan.) ; Neco Lopez, College of the Ozarks (Mo.) ; Austen Seidel, Tabor (Kan.) ; Johan Castillo, Georgetown (Ky.) ; Charlie Patterson, Bellevue (Neb.) ; Alec Martinez, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) ; Max McKee, IU Kokomo (Ind.) ; Ricardo Velez, Science & Arts (Okla.) ; Garrett Martin, Middle Georgia State ; Jayden Hartle, Southeastern (Fla.) ; Jagger Geck, Lourdes (Ohio)


 

Week 3 (March 23, 2021)

Player of the Week: Tim Bouchard, Keiser (Fla.)

 

Tim Bouchard hit .714 and slugged 1.643 over the course of four games and four wins last week for the Seahawks. The junior had three home runs and 11 RBI.

 

Player Nominees: Will Hodges, Central Baptist (Ark.) ; Grant Lalla, Bryan (Tenn.) ; Dylan Jacob, Saint Katherine ; Mitchel Swanson, Oregon Tech ; Aaron Cook, Roosevelt (Ill.) ; Mj Stavola, Indiana Wesleyan ; Simon Reid, Westmont (Calif.) ; Jesse Garcia, Concordia (Neb.) ; Daryl Myers, Benedictine (Kan.) ; Griffin Keller, Georgia Gwinnett ; Kyle Lux, McPherson (Kan.) ; Derek Atwood, Thomas More (Ky.) ; Tyler Austin, Presentation (S.D.) ; Julian Flores, LSU Shreveport (La.) ; Marco Romero, Indiana Southeast (Ind.) ; Dylan Taylor, Oklahoma City ; Zachary Presnall, Mobile (Ala.) ; Mike Snyder, Indiana Tech

 

Pitcher of the Week: Antonio Frias, Faulkner (Ala.)

 

  Antonio Frias tossed a seven-inning no-hitter last week against No. 14-ranked William Carey. The senior racked-up nine strikeouts in the effort.

 

 

Pitcher Nominees: Chris Wall, Columbia (Mo.) ; Kobe Foster, Tennessee Wesleyan ; Tallon Thomason, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) ; Tim Brokop, Saint Xavier (Ill.) ; Jon Young, Indiana Wesleyan ; Izzy Fuentes, Hope International (Calif.) ; Josh Merithew, Hastings (Neb.) ; Alec Thomas, Clarke (Iowa) ; Jathan Smith, Voorhees (S.C.) ; Manuel Rodriguez, Bethany (Kan.) ; Johan Castillo, Georgetown (Ky.) ; Devin Deboer, Dakota State (S.D.) ; Ram Maldonado, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) ; Alec Lush, Asbury (Ky.) ; Jean Muntaner, Science & Arts (Okla.) ; Pablo Arevalo, Keiser (Fla.) ; Travis Keys, Aquinas (Mich.)


 

Week 2 (March 16, 2021)

Player of the Week: Jakobe Smith, Point (Ga.)

 

Jakobe Smith hit .700 over the course of five games and wacked four home runs in the process. The impressive stats included a pair of wins over No. 21 Mobile (Ala.) where he went 5-6 with a double, a home run and four RBI.

 

Player Nominees: Dalton Bealmer, Columbia (Mo.) ; Josh Hernandez, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) ; Dalton Daily, Oregon Tech ; Tj DeHerrera, Indiana South Bend (Ind.) ; Denver Blinn, Indiana Wesleyan ; Omar Ortiz, Vanguard (Calif.) ; Jayden Adams, Concordia (Neb.) ; Jarrett Hunt, William Penn (Iowa) ; Austin Gross, Crowley's Ridge (Ark.) ; Cody Carpenter, Southwestern (Kan.) ; Josh Sears, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) ; Jace Pribyl, Dakota State (S.D.) ; Hunter Reid, Texas A&M Texarkana ; Walker Paris, Asbury (Ky.) ; Justin Brooks, Middle Georgia State ; Mathew Catalfo, Keiser (Fla.) ; Adam Wilding, Siena Heights (Mich.)

 

Pitcher of the Week: Jaily Paredes, Mid-America Christian (Okla.)

 

  Jaily Paredes led the Evangels to securing their first series win over Science & Arts (Okla.) since 2010 with a six-inning, one hit shutout. Paredes picked-up the win as he fanned six batters over the No. 2-ranked Drovers.

 

 

Pitcher Nominees: Andrew Killough, Central Baptist (Ark.) ; Kobe Foster, Tennessee Wesleyan ; Tyler Jacobsen, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) ; Connor Root, College of Idaho ; Ethan Underwood, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) ; Kole Aping, Marian (Ind.) ; Ryan Humphreys, Westmont (Calif.) ; Dru Fitz, Jamestown (N.D.) ; Kyle Waller, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) ; Hunter Dollander, Georgia Gwinnett ; Chase Lorg, Bethany (Kan.) ; Alex Valcarcel, Bethel (Tenn.) ; Parker Stohr, Mayville State (N.D.) ; Luisdiego Quintana, LSU Shreveport (La.) ; Nicholas Beardsley, Point Park (Pa.) ; Brenden Taravella, Loyola (La.) ; Elijah Garner, Warner (Fla.) ; Daniel Monear, Rochester (Mich.)


 

Week 1 (March 9, 2021)

Player of the Week: Danny Favazza, Benedictine (Kan.)

 

Danny Favazza hit .700 over the course of four games last week for the Ravens in a four-game sweep. The junior recorded seven (7) hits, three (3) doubles and his first career home run as he slugged 1.300.

 

Player Nominees: Matt Janocik, Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) ; Gary Mattis Jr., Tennessee Wesleyan ; Julian Garcia-Schroeder, Park Gilbert (AZ) ; Dillon Plew, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) ; Conner Crawford, Taylor (Ind.) ; Mike Shoenberger, William Jessup (Calif.) ; Jayden Adams, Concordia (Neb.) ; Nate Finney, Crowley's Ridge (Ark.) ; Kris Perez, McPherson (Kan.) ; Derek Atwood, Thomas More (Ky.) ; Gunner Garpestad, Mayville State (N.D.) ; Hunter Reid, Texas A&M Texarkana ; Brody Tanksley, Indiana Southeast (Ind.) ; Clay Atwood, Southwestern Christian (Okla.) ; Chris Williams, William Carey (Miss.) ; Anthony Carrera, Southeastern (Fla.) ; Noah Childress, Lourdes (Ohio)

 

Pitcher of the Week: Eli Jackson, Blue Mountain (Miss.)

 

Eli Jackson racked-up 16 strikeouts in a seven inning effort against Williams Baptist (Ark.) to hand his team its second win of the week.

 

 

Pitcher Nominees: Lex Meinderts, Lyon (Ark.) ; Ethan Foley, Reinhardt (Ga.) ; Tyler Jacobsen, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) ; Nick Jennings, Eastern Oregon ; Kameron Koch, Grace (Ind.) ; Izzy Fuentes, Hope International (Calif.) ; Alex Johnson, Concordia (Neb.) ; Tommy Castro, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) ; William Carpenter, Fisher (Mass.) ; Hector Sepulveda, Ottawa (Kan.) ; Brandon Degnegaard, Bethel (Tenn.) ; Corey Jackson, Bellevue (Neb.) ; Bo Sims, Southwest (N.M.) ; Tyler Morrison, Asbury (Ky.) ; Jake Patterson, Oklahoma City ; Christian Camacho, Southeastern (Fla.) ; Mason Hill, Aquinas (Mich.)

 


 

2021 Composite Winners (Pitcher, Player)

Week 1 (March 9): Eli Jackson, Blue Mountain (Miss.) , Danny Favazza, Benedictine (Kan.)
Week 2 (March 16): Jaily Paredes, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) , Jakobe Smith, Point (Ga.)
Week 3 (March 23): Antonio Frias, Faulkner (Ala.) , Tim Bouchard, Keiser (Fla.)
Week 4 (March 30): Chris Wall, Columbia (Mo.) , Dylan Jacob, Saint Katherine
Week 5 (April 06): Ricardo Velez, Science & Arts (Okla.) , Colton Harold, Northwestern (Iowa)
Week 6 (April 13): Jared Davis, Texas A&M Texarkana , Kenny Piper, Columbia (Mo.)
Week 7 (April 20): Hunter Hoffman, Indiana Wesleyan , Luis Vargas, Wayland Baptist (Texas)
Week 8 (April 27): Graham Cahill, Bellevue (Neb.) , Brock Ephan, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
Week 9 (May 04): Aren Gustafson, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) , Cody Muncy, Oklahoma Wesleyan

 

 

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BASEBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

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May 24-31, 2024
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