By: Shawn D. Smith, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston outfielder Jake Hjelle (R-Jr., East Grand Forks, Minn.) was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Central Region Player of the Week.

Jake Hjelle enjoyed a stellar three-game series as the Golden Eagles swept Wayne State, going 8-for-13 with two doubles, four home runs and six RBI. The right-handed hitter slashed .615/.643/1.692 for a 2.335 OPS across the weekend, scoring four runs while providing a four-hit game and a three-hit game with a pair of two-homer performances. The East Grand Forks, Minn., product has eight home runs and 27 RBIs through 23 games this season while hitting .349. 

In addition, Mason Philley of the University of Arkansas Monticello was named NCBWA Central Region Pitcher of the Week.

Hjelle was named NSIC Player of the Week on Tuesday after his outstanding performance against the Wildcats. 

The NCBWA Central Region committee consists of 15 voters with five representatives each from the GAC, MIAA and NSIC. Weekly regular season rankings began on February 13 and run through May 8. The Central Region of NCAA DII Baseball comprises three conferences – the Great American Conference, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – featuring 39 programs spanning nine states.