Baseball Places School-Record 11 On The All-GLIAC Team
The Northwood University baseball team brought home a pair of major awards and had 11 players earn All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) honors, the league announced Wednesday (May 19).
Cole Brooks was named the GLIAC Player of the Year, while Derek Clark was voted the Freshman Pitcher of the Year. Both players earned First Team All-GLIAC as well. Joining Brooks and Clark on the First Team is second baseman Rhett Evans and shortstop David Jeffers. Catcher Matt Magno, first baseman Connor Kin, outfielder Jacob Rybicki, starting pitcher Alan LaBov and starting pitcher Logan Lee all were named Second Team All-GLIAC. Third baseman Michael Karam and starting pitcher Drew Schultz were placed on the Honorable Mention team.
The 11 All-GLIAC performers is the most in school history, passing the 2018 team (10) for the most in program history.
Brooks is the first Northwood player to win GLIAC Player of the Year since Ed Clements in 1995. This season, Brooks led the GLIAC in batting average (.442) and runs batted in (56). He also ranked third in the GLIAC in total bases (105), fourth in walks (27), second in on-base percentage (.527) and third in slugging percentage (.682). Brooks had at least two hits in 23 of 40 games played this season. His .442 average is tied for the eighth highest in the history of the GLIAC and fourth in Northwood history.
Clark is the first Northwood athlete to earn GLIAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year. He is the third NU player to earn a GLIAC Freshman of the Year award, joining David Vinsky (2017) and Matt Shields (2004), both of whom were named GLIAC Freshman Player of the Year. Clark is currently tied for the GLIAC lead in wins (seven) while leading the league in innings pitched (66.0). He also stands second in strikeouts (62) and seventh in ERA (3.27). Clark has earned GLIAC Pitcher of the Week twice this season, including after tossing eight no-hit innings against Indianapolis in his first career start.
Evans became a key player in his first season as a Timberwolf, ending the year batting .331 with six home runs and 42 RBIs. He ranks fourth in the GLIAC in doubles (14) while standing eighth in home runs and seventh in RBIs.
Jeffers also was an impact player for the Timberwolves in year one, hitting .344 with three home runs and 29 RBIs. He ranks fifth in the GLIAC in runs (45), seventh in hits (55) and 12th in total bases (77).
Another impact newcomer, redshirt freshman Matt Magno ended the regular season batting .329 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs. He currently ranks fourth in the GLIAC in RBIs, sixth in home runs and ninth in runs scored (34).
Kin had a breakthrough senior season for the Timberwolves, entering post season play batting .350 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs. He ranks fifth in the GLIAC in home runs, 10th in RBIs, seventh in total bases (87) and sixth in slugging percentage (.635). He set Northwood and GLIAC records for home runs in a game after hitting four against SVSU May 1.
Rybicki has been a force at the top of the lineup for Northwood this season, currently standing with a .338 average to go with 11 home runs and 28 RBIs. He currently leads the GLIAC in stolen bases (22) and walks (31) while ranking second in home runs, third in runs (51) and triples (four) as well as fifth in slugging percentage (.662).
After missing much of the season due to injury, LaBov has been outstanding in his six starts. He is currently 5-0 with a 1.99 ERA. Despite all of the missed time, LaBov is tied for fifth in the GLIAC in wins this season. In conference play, his 1.99 ERA ranks second in the league.
Lee emerged as one of the top starting pitchers in the GLAC this season. He is currently 6-1 on the season with a 4.53 ERA. Lee ranks third in the GLIAC in wins, fifth in strikeouts (53) and seventh in innings pitched (55 2/3). He tossed a complete game shutout in a 5-0 victory over Grand Valley State April 2.
Karam has made his senior season his best at Northwood, currently batting .311 with five home runs and 31 RBIs. He ranks ninth in the league in runs (34), 10th in home runs, 12th in RBIs and 14th in total bases (70).
Schultz has been a consistent performer in the rotation for the Timberwolves this season, currently 4-2 with a 4.32 ERA. He ranks third in the conference in strikeouts (47) while standing eighth in wins and fourth in innings pitched (58 1/3).
Northwood enters the GLIAC Tournament 27-13 overall, having finished one game out of first place with an 18-10 conference record. NU is the third seed in the tournament and will face fourth-seeded Ashland in an opening round game Thursday (May 20) at 6 p.m.