BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2016 All-Conference Baseball Team on Friday afternoon and three Gusties were honored with postseason accolades. Pitcher Jacob Volness (Sr., Cokato, Minn.) and second baseman Isaiah Welckle (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) were named to the All-Conference Team, while third baseman Brock Peterson (So., Cannon Falls, Minn.) was named to the All-Defensive Team.
Volness solidified his spot as the ace of the staff during the 2016 campaign, leading the Gusties with a 3.26 ERA and 5-3 record in 12 appearances and 10 starts. He logged three complete games (3rd/MIAC) and one shutout in 66 and one-thirds innings pitched (5th/MIAC). Volness led the Gusties with 45 strikeouts and held opponents to a .254 batting average. The Cokato native ended his Gustavus career in style, defeating MIAC foes Bethel and St. Thomas in consecutive appearances. He pitched a complete game two-hitter against Bethel and followed that with three innings of relief in a win over No. 15 St. Thomas, earing MIAC Pitcher-of-the-Week.
Welckle was a staple at the top of the Gusties batting order and a sure-handed fielder at second base. Welckle was the leadoff hitter in 18 games and started at second base in 35 games. The Minneapolis native hit .365 at the plate, which was second best among Gustavus regular starters. He recorded 50 hits in 137 at-bats with eight doubles and 16 RBI. Welckle posted a slugging percentage of .423, on-base percentage of .413 and was 8-for-13 on stolen base attempts. Defensively, Welckle made 84 putouts with 81 assists and 10 errors for a fielding percentage of .943.
Peterson makes an appearance on the All-Defensive Team after displaying great range, quick hands, and a strong arm from third base. The Cannon Falls native registered 35 putouts, 80 assists, and just six errors for a fielding percentage of .950. Peterson also put together a productive year at the plate, batting .287 with 35 hits and 11 RBI. Peterson is the first Gustie to be named to the All-Defensive Team since the MIAC started the award in 2010.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the 10th-annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for baseball. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Gustavus’s representative this season is Danny Kimlinger (Sr., Lindstrom, Minn.).
The 2016 MIAC Baseball Awards were highlighted by Willie Doll of Saint Mary’s as the Max Molock Most Valuable Player, Eric Veglahn of St. Thomas as the Mike Augustin Pitcher-of-the-Year, Mike Brookshaw of Augsburg as the Rookie-of-the-Year, and Jim Weyandt of Hamline as the Jim Dimick Coach-of-the-Year.