BU dominates all-conference voting
DICKINSON, N.D. -- The Bellevue University baseball team saw 15 different players and two coaches honored by the North Star Athletic Association on Wednesday evening at the end-of-season awards banquet.
Ayden Makarus (Okotoks, Alberta) was tabbed as the NSAA Newcomer of the Year after producing a .322/.410/.777 slash line for an 1.187 OPS during the regular season. Of his 39 hits, 23 went for extra-bases while he drove in 35 runs and scored 37. His 15 home runs rank third in the conference behind a pair of teammates, belting those out in just 37 games.
Head coach Duane Monlux took home NSAA Coach of the Year honors after leading the Bruins to their sixth-straight NSAA Regular Season Championship and 10th during his BU tenure. He guided to the Bruins to a 36-13 regular season record and 19-1 mark in NSAA play as Bellevue won the league by eight games.
Pitching coach Shawn Malley was recognized as the NSAA Assistant Coach of the Year. Malley has orchestrated a pitching staff that ranks among the NAIA's best in numerous categories: #20 ERA (4.67), #31 strikeouts per nine (8.64), and #18 in WHIP (1.40). The Bruins have struck out 368 batters in 383.1 innings against just 114 walks for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.23.
The Bruins had eight players selected to the all-NSAA first team. Joining Makarus on the all-NSAA first team were Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alberta), Scott Hansen (Portage, Ind.) Steven Elsner (San Francisco, Calif.), Jake Lacey (Gillette, Wyo.), Parker McMan (Bozeman, Mont.), Kenji Miller (Shoreline, Wash.), and Jace Wessels (Clarkston, Wash.).
Bellevue also had three second team all-NSAA honorees in Balas Buckmaster (Anchorage, Alaska), Elijah Tanner (Kennewick, Wash.), and Brayden Andersen (Kearney, Neb.).
Gavin Wuschke (Regina, Saskatchewan) earned honorable mention all-NSAA accolades and Austin Shever (Kingwood, Texas) is BU's Champion of Character representative.
Six players took home NSAA Gold Awards: Grant, Hansen, CJ Townsend (Eugene, Ore.), Tanner, Anthony Lind (Omaha, Neb.), and McMan.
The entire team was also recognized for winning the regular season championship this past weekend with a four-game sweep of the University of Jamestown. With their win in game one of the series, BU clinched the No. 1 seed for this week's NSAA Tournament. The Bruins are seeking a fourth-straight NSAA Tournament Title and begin their postseason journey on Thursday, May 1 at 10 a.m. against No. 8-seeded Valley City State University.
Major Awards
Newcomer of the Year – Ayden Makarus
Coach of the Year – Duane Monlux
Assistant Coach of the Year – Shawn Malley
First Team All-NSAA
C – Logan Grant (.339 AVG, 1.085 OPS, 17 HR, 58 RBI)
3B – Scott Hansen (.349 AVG, .927 OPS, 47 Runs, 35 RBI)
IF – Steven Elsner (.387 AVG, 1.306 OPS, 19 HR, 55 RBI)
OF – Jake Lacey (.376 AVG, 1.060 OPS, 25 XBH, 42 RBI)
DH – Ayden Makarus (.322 AVG, 1.187 OPS, 15 HR, 35 RBI)
SP – Parker McMan (5-2, 2.49 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 71 SO)
SP – Kenji Miller (8-0, 3.62 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 68 SO)
SP – Jace Wessels (5-0, 2.06 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 43 SO)
Second Team All-NSAA
IF – Balas Buckmaster (.338 AVG, 1.006 OPS, 11 XBH, 23 RBI)
OF – Elijah Tanner (.291 AVG, .752 OPS, 12 XBH, 41 RBI)
RP – Brayden Andersen (3-0, 3 SV, 2.55 ERA, 0.91 WHIP)
Honorable Mention All-NSAA
SP – Gavin Wuschke (8-2, 4.83 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 50 SO)
NSAA Gold Gloves
C – Logan Grant (11 CS, .981 Fielding %)
3B – Scott Hansen (2 DPs, .945 Fielding %)
SS – CJ Townsend (15 DPs, .964 Fielding %)
OF – Elijah Tanner (3 Outfield Assists, .986 Fielding %)
OF – Anthony Lind (3 Outfield Assists, .990 Fielding %)
P – Parker McMan (2 pickoffs, 1.000 Fielding %)
Champion of Character