GRINNELL’S NODZENSKI NAMED TO 2011 D3BASEBALL.COM ALL-AMERICA TEAM

GRINNELL, Iowa – Already enjoying a season full of well-deserved accolades, Grinnell College’s Mike Nodzenski ’12 has added to that list.

Nodzenski, a catcher from Naperville, Ill. (Naperville North), became the second Pioneer baseball player to earn All-America honors when he was named to the D3baseball.com Third Team for the 2011 campaign. Jake Chavez was also a third-team All-American for the Pioneers.

Nodzenski, who was recently named to the Rawlings/ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) All-Central Region Team for the second season in a row, enjoyed another incredible year for Grinnell.

He was named the Midwest Conference South Division Player of the Year for the third time in a row and currently ranks among the national leaders in several categories. He is fourth in slugging percentage (.850), fifth in batting average (.465) and on-base percentage (.556) and sixth in home runs (12).

He leads the MWC in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs, RBI (47) and total bases (91) and is second in on-base percentage and runs scored (38). He established Grinnell school records for RBI and home runs in a career, as well as RBI in a game (nine), home runs in a game (three) and home runs in a season.

The national Player of the Year is Chad Mullins, a third baseman from Case Western Reserve, while the Pitcher of the Year is Marietta’s Brian Gasser.

For the complete All-America Team, visit http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-americans/d3baseball-allamericans-2011