April 10, 2023

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association announced their seventh edition of the Baseball Players-of-the-Week Monday by the conference office.  JD Kirchner of Dakota State (S.D.) was selected as the Pitcher-of-the-Week.  Shane Nixon of Valley City State (N.D.) was chosen as the Player-of-the-Week.

North Star Athletic Association Baseball Pitcher-of-the-Week
JD Kirchner – Dakota State (S.D.) – Junior – pitcher – Lennox, S.D. – Kirchner went 2-0 record and earned a save in three pitching appearances as Dakota State (S.D.) extended their winning streak to 18 games after going 5-0 record for the week.  He tossed 12 total innings, including a complete game shutout victory over Presentation (S.D.).  Kirchner also worked for five total innings in the four-game series at Viterbo (Wis.), earning a victory in the first game of the series in 3-2 DaSU victory.  He earned a save in the final game of the series after tossing a shutout in the seventh inning in relief for a 5-2 win over the V-Hawks.  For the week, Kirchner did not allow a run and yielded their opponents to seven hits.  He recorded a total of 14 strikeouts (10.50 K/per 9 innings).

North Star Athletic Association Baseball Player-of-the-Week
Shane Nixon – Valley City State (N.D.) – Senior – infielder – Toronto, Ontario – Nixon homered in three games during Valley City State (N.D.) North Star Athletic Association four-game series sweep over Presentation (S.D.).  He batted .538 for the week after going 7-of-13 at the plate.  He blasted five home runs and drove in 12 runs.  Nixon hit a grand slam and a walk-off 2-run home run in 10-8 VCSU game two win over PC.  For the week, Nixon produced a slugging percentage of 1.846 (5 home runs, 1 triple) and scored seven runs.  He also posted an on-base percentage of .563.    

Recap from last week’s games
Dakota State (S.D.) extended their winning streak to 18 games after going 5-0 record in the North Star Athletic Association play.  The Trojans opened the week with a 3-0 shutout victory over Presentation (S.D.) in Lincoln, Neb. on April 3.  The Trojans stretched their winning streak after sweeping the four-game series with Viterbo (Wis.) on April 7-8.  The Trojans won by the scores of 3-2 and 4-1 on April 7, followed by 13-3 in seven innings and 5-2 on April 8.  Dakota State raised their overall record to 25-12 and maintains first place in the NSAA standings with a 16-0 undefeated record. 

The V-Hawks split a doubleheader with Valley City State (N.D.) on April 3, losing the first game 6-4 and winning the second game 7-2.  Viterbo is 8-23 overall record.
VCSU produced a four-game series sweep over the Saints in Forest City, Iowa.  The Vikings won by the score of 16-0 and 10-8 on April 7, followed by 23-2 and 13-9 wins on April 8.  Valley City State is 10-22 overall record and tied for sixth in the conference standings with Viterbo, each with 6-9 record.  PC fell to 0-30 overall record and 0-16 record in the league.

Bellevue (Neb.), ranked No. 5 in the latest NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, earned a 7-3 road victory at York (Neb.) on April 4.  The Bruins won the first game of the NSAA’s four-game series with Waldorf (Iowa) 3-2 on April 7 before falling to the Warriors 5-4 in eight innings in the second game.  BU earned a doubleheader sweep over WU 20-4 and 6-0 on April 8.  Belleuve is 29-6 overall record and 15-1 NSAA conference record.

The Warriors dropped a 9-1 nine-inning non-conference contest at Northwestern (Iowa) on April 4.  Waldorf is 13-20 overall record and 8-8 NSAA conference record (third in the NSAA baseball standings).

Mayville State (N.D.) took the first game of the NSAA’s series with Dickinson State (N.D.) 12-6 on April 7.  Both teams were unable to play the second game on the same day.  The Blue Hawks swept the Comets 7-1 and 6-3 on April 8.  Dickinson State is 13-21 overall record, while Mayville State is 12-18 overall record.  Both teams are 6-9 record in the North Star conference games.

Looking Ahead
No. 5 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) plays a nine-inning contest at Midland (Neb.) Monday (today).  Waldorf (Iowa) stays on the road Tuesday for a non-conference game at Grand View (Iowa).

The North Star Athletic Association four-game series continues Friday and Saturday.  Schedules include Valley City State (N.D.) at Waldorf (Iowa), Presentation (S.D.) at
Bellevue, Mayville State (N.D.) at Viterbo (Wis.) and Dakota State (S.D.) at Dickinson State (N.D.).  Stay tuned with your school’s athletic website for future updates on schedule changes.

            Monday’s Game
            (5) Bellevue (Neb.) @ Midland (Neb.) – 5 p.m.   
 
            Tuesday’s Game
            Waldorf (Iowa) @ Grand View (Iowa) – 2 p.m.

            Friday’s Games
            Valley City State (N.D.) @ Waldorf (Iowa) – 1 p.m. – Doubleheader
            Mayville State (N.D.) @ Viterbo (Wis.) – 1 p.m. – Doubleheader
            Presentation (S.D.) @ (5) Bellevue (Neb.) – 1 p.m. – Doubleheader
            Dakota State (S.D.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time) – Doubleheader

            Saturday’s Games
            Valley City State (N.D.) @ Waldorf (Iowa) – 12 p.m. – Doubleheader
            Mayville State (N.D.) @ Viterbo (Wis.) – 12 p.m. – Doubleheader
            Presentation (S.D.) @ (5) Bellevue (Neb.) – 12 p.m. – Doubleheader
            Dakota State (S.D.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 1 p.m. (Central Time)/12 p.m. (Mountain Time) – Doubleheader

2023 NSAA Baseball Conference Standings

 

School	Overall Record	NSAA Record	Games Behind	Streak
Dakota State (S.D.)	25-12	16-0	----	Won 18
(5) Bellevue (Neb.)	29-6	15-1	1.0	Won 2
Waldorf (Iowa)	13-20	8-8	8.0	Lost 2
Dickinson State (N.D.)	13-21	6-9	9.5	Won 2
Mayville State (N.D.)	12-18	6-9	9.5	Lost 2
Viterbo (Wis.)	8-23	6-10	10.0	Lost 4
Valley City State (N.D.)	10-22	6-10	10.0	Won 4
Presentation (S.D.)	0-30	0-16	16.0	Lost 30

The NSAA Player of the Week is selected from a pool of conference players of the week.  Sports information director representatives from each conference institution may nominate players for the specific conference award in each category.  A voting panel comprising of sports information directors from each conference institution vote using the PrestoSports secure platform.

Nick Huntimer, North Star Athletic Association Sports Information Director