BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for baseball, softball, and tennis on Monday. Student-athletes from Gustavus, Saint Mary's, and St. Olaf claimed the Conference's weekly honors.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference's sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Throughout the spring season, team sports (baseball, softball, and tennis) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (outdoor track & field and golf) announced on Tuesday afternoons. The winners of the latest Athlete of the Week awards are listed below, along with details on their outstanding performances.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week archive has complete details on each week's selections and winners.
MIAC Baseball Player of the Week
Kanen Kreafle
St. Olaf College
Sr. | Designated Hitter
Potomac, Md. / Winston Churchill
Kanen Kreafle went 5-for-8 (.625) with two doubles, a home run, a walk, two runs scored, and three RBI while posting a .667 on-base percentage and 1.250 slugging percentage in the Oles' doubleheader against Gustavus on 3/31. Kreafle had three hits, including a double and a solo home run, in game one before adding two hits, a walk, and two RBI in game two.
MIAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Connor Esposito
Gustavus Adolphus College
So. | Left-Handed Pitcher
Mound, Minn. / Westonka
Connor Esposito closed out both games of a doubleheader with St. Olaf on 3/31, earning a save and a win in the process. Esposito came on in extra-inning relief in game one and needed just six pitches to retire the side and earn a Gustavus victory. In a 5-4 game-two win, Esposito returned to the mound for three innings of work and conceded only one hit to pick up the save and series sweep.
MIAC Softball Player of the Week
Megan McGinnis
Saint Mary's University
Jr. | Second Base
Appleton, Wis. / Kimberly
Megan McGinnis drove in six runs in the Cardinals' two 12-0 wins over Augsburg on 4/3. McGinnis hit an inside-the-park grand slam to put SMU ahead 4-0 in the first inning of game one. She went 2-for-2 at the plate in game two, collecting an RBI double along the way. McGinnis was also perfect in the field with three putouts and an assist from second base in the series.
MIAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Kenzie Gatz
Saint Mary's University
Jr. | Pitcher
Oswego, Ill. / Oswego East
Kenzie Gatz earned her seventh win of the season with a five-inning shutout against Augsburg on 4/3. Gatz struck out seven of the 13 batters she faced, allowing only one hit in a 12-0 win.
MIAC Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Dominik Knutson
Gustavus Adolphus College
Jr.
Dvur Kralove nad Labem, Czech Republic / SPOS
Dominik Knutson led the Gusties to a 5-2 victory over nationally-ranked UW-Whitewater on 4/4. After sweeping doubles play with a 6-0 win at the No. 2 spot, Knutson earned a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 2 singles.
MIAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Karina Elvestrom
Gustavus Adolphus College
So.
Minnetonka, Minn. / Minnetonka
Karina Elvestrom led the Gusties to the team title at the Midwest Invite Championship on 4/3-4 by winning all six of her matches at the top singles and doubles positions. Elvestrom collected a 6-0 doubles win and 6-0, 6-1 singles triumph against Luther in the quarterfinals, before claiming 7-6 (10-5) and 6-4, 6-2 wins against nationally-ranked Hope in the semifinals. Elvestrom then recorded a 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles and won 7-5, 6-2 at No. 1 singles against nationally-ranked Denison in the tournament final.