GRINNELL’S NODZENSKI, POPE NAMED TO BASEBALL ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM

GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College catcher Mike Nodzenski ’12 and pitcher Ben Pope ’12 have been named to the Capital One Academic All-District Baseball Team

Nodzenski was a second-team selection in the College Division of District 7, while Pope was a third-team pick.

Nodzenski, from Naperville, Ill. (Naperville North), is a two-time defending Midwest Conference South Division Player of the Year. He owns Grinnell career records for home runs with 27 and RBI with 122. Last season, he had 53 RBI to lead the MWC and set a school record. A Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region selection last year, Nodzenski also owns the school record for round-trippers in a game with three.

He is hitting .474 this season to go along with eight homers and 33 RBI.

Pope, from Maryville, Tenn. (Alcoa), was named the MWC South Division Pitcher of the Year last season. Also a Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region pick, he ranked fourth in NCAA Division III last season with a 1.82 ERA. He also posted an 8-1 record during that time, tying a school record for wins in a season.

Pope is currently 3-2 with a 3.22 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 50.1 innings.

Both players have helped Grinnell claim three consecutive MWC South Division titles.