DENVER – Utah Valley designated hitter Mark Krueger and Texas-Pan American right-hander Blake English have been named the Western Athletic Conference Baseball Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for April 21-27.
Krueger, a sophomore from Draper, Utah (Jordan HS), hit .438 (7-for-16), to lead Utah Valley to a perfect 4-0 record last week. Krueger helped the Wolverines to a 12-8 win over in-state rival Utah as he recorded two hits, two runs, a double and a walk. He had three multi-hit games during the week and slugged .938. He homered in both games of a Friday double-header sweep over Northern Colorado. He scored two times in each game during the week. He struck out only one time in 16 at bats. Over the four games, Krueger tallied seven hits, eight runs scored, four RBI, two doubles, two walks and two home runs.
English, a junior from Del Valle, Texas (De Valle HS), pitched a one-hit complete game shutout in a 1-0 win at Chicago State. The performance marked his second complete and shutout in his last three starts. English carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, retiring the first 16 batters he faced before an error put a runner on base. The lone hit English gave up was a single with one out in the seventh. English recorded 12 groundouts, 10 fly outs, and five strikeouts (one looking) while throwing 65 of his 99 pitches for strikes.
The other hitter of the week nominations: Grand Canyon junior second baseman Chad De La Guerra … Chicago State junior infielder Mattingly Romanin … New Mexico State junior outfielder Kyle Young … North Dakota senior catcher Taylor Petersen … Sacramento State junior shortstop Scotty Burcham … Seattle U senior infielder Cullen Hendrickson … Texas-Pan American senior third baseman Alberto Morales.
The other pitcher of the week nominations: Bakersfield junior James Barragan … Grand Canyon junior Andrew Naderer … Chicago State junior Ean McNeal … New Mexico State junior Billy Conard … North Dakota junior Andrew Thome … Sacramento State sophomore Sutter McLoughlin … Seattle U sophomore Will Dennis … Utah Valley senior Andrew Freter.