Rochester, MN - 

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) has released its baseball weekly awards for the week of April 21-27.

Owen Vargas, a right-handed pitcher for Rochester Community and Technical College, has been named this week's MCAC South Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week. Vargas started one game and threw a seven-inning shutout. He gave up four hits and struck out five, while walking only one. Of the 94 pitches Vargas threw, 68 were strikes for a strike rate of 72%. 

Century College designated hitter Seth Tierney hit .476 for the week, going 10 for 21 from the plate. He had three doubles and three home runs, scoring seven runs and driving in eight. Tierney also walked once. For his offensive fireworks, Tierney earned this week's MCAC South Division Baseball Position Player of the Week award.

Tyson Barthel, a right-handed pitcher for Minnesota State Community and Technical College, made one starting appearance during the week and gave up only one earned run and one hit in the win. He struck out seven batters and walked four, putting together a weekly ERA of 1.28 and earning this week's MCAC Central Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week honor. 

St. Cloud Technical and Community College's right fielder Hayden Frank earned this week's MCAC Central Division Baseball Position Player of the Week award. Frank went 6 for 11 at the plate, hitting .545 for the week. He had a triple and a home run, along with four RBI and four runs scored. Frank also walked six times and stole three bases. 

Rayce Fisher, right-handed pitcher for Northland Community and Technical College, was named this week's MCAC North Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week honoree. Fischer earned a win in his one start, pitching five innings of shutout ball and scattering only two hits. He struck out five batters and walked one to help his Pioneers to a weekend series win.

Minnesota North College - Rainy River third baseman, Ian Becker, went 7 for 11 from the plate, hitting .636 for the week. He doubled twice and hit one home run, driving in nine runs and scoring six. Becker walked five times and stole two bases in the weekend series sweep, and he has been named the week's MCAC North Division Baseball Position Player of the Week.

As MCAC teams compile games and statistics, keep tabs on Conference leaders at the following links:

MCAC Baseball Statistical Leaders: https://mcacsports.org/sports/bsb/2024-25/leaders 

MCAC Baseball Standings:  https://mcacsports.org/sports/bsb/2024-25/standings

	MCAC Baseball South Division Athletes of the Week
Owen Vargas Rochester Community & Technical College SO / RHP New Port Richie, FL	Pitcher of the Week Win-Loss Record: 1-0 Starts:  1 Appearances: 1 Innings Pitched:  7.0 Earned Runs:  0 Runs Given Up:  0 Hits Given Up:  4 Strikeouts:  5 Walks:  1 Noteworthy Information: Owen is averaging 7.48 strikeouts per game this season. Team Record: 15-21 overall, 4-8 in the MCAC South
Seth Tierney Century College SO / DH Eden Prairie, MN	Position Player of the Week Hits/At Bats:  10/21 Batting Avg.:  .476 Doubles:  3 Triples:  0 Home Runs:  3 Runs Batted In:  8 Runs:  7 Walks:  1 Stolen Bases:  0 Noteworthy Information: Seth ranks first in the MCAC in home runs with 12 on the season. Team Record: 33-8 overall, 12-0 in the MCAC South

	MCAC Baseball Central Division Athletes of the Week
Tyson Barthel Minnesota State Community & Technical College SO / RHP Bluffton, MN	Pitcher of the Week Win-Loss Record: 1-0 Starts:  1 Appearances: 1 Innings Pitched:  7.0 Earned Runs:  1 Runs Given Up:  1 Hits Given Up:  1 Strikeouts:  7 Walks:  4 Noteworthy Information: Tyson had a 1.28 ERA for the week. Team Record: 20-8 overall, 7-3 in the MCAC Central
Hayden Frank St. Cloud Technical & Community College SO / RF St. Michael, MN	Position Player of the Week Hits/At Bats:  6/11 Batting Avg.:  .545 Doubles:  0 Triples:  1 Home Runs:  1 Runs Batted In:  4 Runs:  4 Walks:  6 Stolen Bases:  3 Noteworthy Information: Hayden also pitched a complete game, giving up only 1 earned run and striking out 4 in the win. Team Record: 22-14 overall, 13-3 in the MCAC Central

	MCAC Baseball North Division Athletes of the Week
Rayce Fisher Northland Community & Technical College FR / RHP Billings, MT	Pitcher of the Week Win-Loss Record: 1-0 Starts:  1 Appearances: 1 Innings Pitched:  5.0 Earned Runs:  0 Runs Given Up:  0 Hits Given Up:  2 Strikeouts:  5 Walks:  0 Noteworthy Information: Rayce had an ERA of 0.00 and had 9.00 K/9 innings. Team Record: 23-18 overall, 15-1 in the MCAC North
Ian Becker Minnesota North College - Rainy River SO / 3B St. George, UT	Position Player of the Week Hits/At Bats:  7/11 Batting Avg.:  .636 Doubles:  2 Triples:  0 Home Runs:  1 Runs Batted In:  9 Runs:  6 Walks:  5 Stolen Bases:  2 Noteworthy Information: Ian is currently batting .469 on the season with an OBP of .579 and OPS of 1.313. Team Record: 12-26 overall, 6-10 in the MCAC North

About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system, as well as select colleges in North Dakota and Wisconsin.  The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions.  The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.