GRINNELL’S NODZENSKI, GOLDFIEN, POPE AND KELLY NAMED TO D3BASEBALL.COM ALL-REGION TEAM
Grinnell College Athletics
GRINNELL, Iowa – Four Grinnell College players have been named to the 2012 D3baseball.com All-Central Region Team.
Mike Nodzenski ’12 was named a first-team catcher, Michael Goldfien ’12 made the second team at shortstop, Ben Pope ’12 was named a third-team starting pitcher and Andrew Kelley ’14 third-team relief pitcher.
Nodzenski, a catcher from Naperville, Ill. (Naperville North), was recently named the Midwest Conference South Division Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive season.
He rewrote the Grinnell record book during his career. Among the preseason All-American’s career marks are batting average (.395), home runs (38), doubles (50), RBIs (169), slugging percentage (.725) and on-base percentage (.483). This season, he ranked second in the league in slugging percentage (.642) and doubles (16), was third in home runs (seven) and fifth in on-base percentage (.483). He was sixth in RBIs with 33 and eighth in batting average at .366.
Goldfien, from Mill Valley, Calif. (Tamiscal), was seventh in the MWC in hits with 49 and among the leaders in batting average at .336. He was tops for the Pioneers in runs scored with 30 and assists with 106, second in batting average, third in slugging percentage at .425 and fourth in on-base percentage at .408.
Pope, who is from Maryville, Tenn. (Alcoa), was the MWC leader in strikeouts with 54 while ranking third in opponent batting average (.234) and 10th in ERA (3.79). He had a 4-3 record and a career mark of 19-8. He was twice named MWC South Pitcher of the Year during his career.
Kelley, who is from Springfield, Ill. (Sacred Heart-Griffin), was recently named the MWC South Division Pitcher of the Year. He was among the top five in the conference in ERA (2.96), victories (5-2 record) and opponent batting average (.250). Kelley was second on the Pioneers’ squad in strikeouts with 29 and ranked third in innings pitched with 45 2/3.
The Central Region Player of the Year is Kevin Callahan of Illinois Wesleyan, Nick Soldano of North Park was named Pitcher of the Year and Blake Wilson of Wartburg won Rookie of the Year honors. Adam Stevens of Central earned Coach of the Year honors.
