GRINNELL’S NODZENSKI AND POPE EARN RAWLINGS/ABCA ALL-CENTRAL REGION RECOGNITION

Grinnell College Athletics

GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College’s Mike Nodzenski ’12 (left) and Ben Pope ’12 (right) have earned Rawlings/ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) All-Central Region Team honors.

Nodzenski was selected to the second team as a catcher, while Pope earned a spot on the Region’s Gold Glove squad at the pitcher spot. Both players had recently been named All-Region by D3baseball.com.

Nodzenski, a catcher from Naperville, Ill. (Naperville North), was recently tabbed 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.

Pope, who is from Maryville, Tenn. (Alcoa), had a perfect fielding percentage this season with 14 assists and five putouts in 19 chances. A three-time All-MWC selection, he was the league 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.

The Region’s Player of the Year is Terry Davis of Illinois College, while David Mueller of Webster University is the Pitcher of the Year. The Coach of the Year is Bill Kurich of Webster.