April 17, 2023

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association announced their eighth edition of the Baseball Players-of-the-Week Monday by the conference office.  Sam Tyrpa of Dakota State (S.D.) was selected as the Pitcher-of-the-Week.  Kanta Kobayashi of Bellevue (Neb.) was chosen as the Player-of-the-Week.

North Star Athletic Association Baseball Pitcher-of-the-Week
Sam Tyrpa – Dakota State (S.D.) – Sophomore – pitcher – Excelsior, Minn. – Tyrpa remained undefeated on the pitching mound as Dakota State (S.D.) extended their winning streak to 20 games after a doubleheader sweep at Dickinson State (N.D.).  He limited the Blue Hawks to just two hits in a complete game victory.  Typra retired the final 16 batters in the game to propel the Trojans to an 8-0 shutout victory in game two.  He also registered eight strikeouts in the game (10.29 K/per 9 innings) and issued just one walk.

North Star Athletic Association Baseball Player-of-the-Week
Kanta Kobayashi – Bellevue (Neb.) – Senior – outfielder – Tokyo, Japan – Kobayashi hit .591 and scored 16 runs as No. 5 ranked Bellevue (Neb.) went 5-0 record for the week.  He recorded multi-hit games four times during the week, as well as scoring at least two runs in all five games.  He added three doubles, a home run, and drove in nine runs.  Kobayashi produced a slugging percentage of .864 and an on-base percentage of .630.  He posted a 1.494 OPS (on-base percentage and slugging percentage).  He handled eight chances without committing a defensive error in the center field (1.000 fielding percentage).    

Recap from last week’s games
Dakota State (S.D.) ballooned their winning streak to 20 games, the longest current winning streak in the NAIA this season, after a doubleheader sweep over Dickinson State (N.D.) on April 16.  The Trojans held on to a 5-4 victory in the first game, followed by an 8-0 shutout victory in the second game.  DaSU raised their overall record to 27-12 and stayed undefeated in the North Star conference play with an 18-0 record.  DiSU fell to 14-22 overall record and 6-11 NSAA conference record.

Bellevue (Neb.), ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, extended their winning streak to seven games after going 5-0 record for the week.  The Bruins held off Midland (Neb.) on the road on April 10.  The Bruins swept the North Star’s four-game series with Presentation (S.D.) by scores of 28-6 and 21-3 on April 13, followed by 27-5 and 7-1 victories on April 14.  Bellevue is 34-6 overall record on the season and 19-1 record in the league.  The Saints dropped their overall record to 0-34 and 0-20 record in North Star contests.

Waldorf (Iowa) took three games in the NSAA’s four-game series with Valley City State (N.D.) in Forest City, Iowa.  The Warriors won the first game 25-20 in a high-scoring affair, followed by a 17-4 game two victory on April 13.  VCSU took the third game in the series 12-1 before WU closed the series with a 6-3 win on April 14.  Waldorf Is 16-21 overall record and 11-9 NSAA conference record.  Valley City State is 11-25 overall record and 7-13 NSAA record.

Mayville State (N.D.) earned their North Star Athletic Association’s four-game series sweep at Viterbo (Wis.) last week.  The Comets rallied back for a 15-10 game one victory, followed by a 7-4 game two win on April 13.  MSU swept VU 11-3 and 11-5 on April 14.  Mayville State improved their overall record to 16-18 and 10-9 record in the North Star.  Viterbo fell to 8-27 overall record and 6-14 NSAA conference record.

Looking Ahead
Dakota State (S.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) completes their North Star Athletic Association’s four-game series Monday (today) in Dickinson, N.D.

Mayville State (N.D.) is scheduled to play a nine-inning contest at NCAA Division I North Dakota State on Tuesday evening.  Bellevue (Neb.) travels to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Morningside (Iowa) on the same night.  Dakota State is scheduled to play their first home game of the season Tuesday evening versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a nine-inning game.

Waldorf (Iowa) is slated to visit NCAA Division I South Dakota State for a nine-inning game Wednesday afternoon.

The North Star Athletic Association action continues Friday and Saturday with another four-game series.  Mayville State travels to Bellevue, while Dickinson State visits Waldorf.  Viterbo (Wis.) remains home versus Presentation (S.D.), while Dakota State (S.D.) hosts Valley City State (N.D.).

            Monday’s Games
            Dakota State (S.D.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 12 p.m. (Central Time)/11 a.m. (Mountain Time) - Doubleheader

            Tuesday’s Games
            (5) Bellevue (Neb.) @ Morningside (Iowa) – 6 p.m.
            Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) @ Dakota State (S.D.) – 6 p.m.
            Mayville State (N.D.) @ North Dakota State – 6:30 p.m.

            Wednesday’s Game
            Waldorf (Iowa) @ South Dakota State – 3 p.m.

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

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

2023 NSAA Baseball Conference Standings
 

School	Overall Record	NSAA Record	Games Behind	Streak
Dakota State (S.D.)	27-12	18-0	----	Won 20
(5) Bellevue (Neb.)	34-6	19-1	1.0	Won 7
Waldorf (Iowa)	16-21	11-9	7.5	Won 1
Mayville State (N.D.)	16-18	10-9	8.0	Won 4
Dickinson State (N.D.)	14-22	6-11	10.5	Won 2
Valley City State (N.D.)	11-25	7-13	11.5	Lost 1
Viterbo (Wis.)	8-27	6-14	13.5	Lost 8
Presentation (S.D.)	0-34	0-20	19.0	Lost 34