Trask Named NSIC Newcomer of the Year; McIntee Earns Assistant Coach of the Year as Mavericks Collect All-Conference Honors

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Minnesota State’s CJ Trask has been named NSIC Newcomer of the Year, while PJ McIntee earned NSIC Assistant Coach of the Year honors. In addition to those awards, the Mavericks-who posted a 37-12 overall record and a 29-7 mark in conference play-placed five players on the All-NSIC First Team, three on the Second Team and one of the Defensive Team.

Trask made an immediate impact in his first season as a Maverick, starting 45 games. He ranks second on the team with a .365 batting average (eighth in the NSIC) and totaled 61 hits, 50 runs scored, and a team-high 14 doubles. He also posted a .490 on-base percentage, recorded 16 multi-hit games, and drove in multiple RBIs in 13 contests. Trask put together the team’s longest hitting streak of the season at 14 games and was also named to the All-NSIC First Team.

McIntee played a key role in guiding the Mavericks to a 37-12 record and a second-place finish in the NSIC standings with a 29-7 conference mark.

Junior left-handed pitcher Sam George (Bettendorf, Iowa) earned All-NSIC First Team honors after leading both the Mavericks and the NSIC with a 2.61 ERA, which ranks 25th in NCAA Division II. He allowed just 19 runs over 58.2 innings while striking out 57 batters and compiling a 7-1 record. George also delivered a standout performance against Minot State on March 13, striking out 10 over seven innings.

Junior right-handed pitcher Daniel Zang (Prior Lake, Minn.) also garnered First Team honors. He posted a 2.61 ERA (26th in Division II), allowing 19 runs over 51.2 innings pitched. Zang leads the team with 70 strikeouts, ranking second in the NSIC, and finished the regular season with a 7-1 record. His top performances included 10 strikeouts in seven innings against Minnesota Crookston on April 19 and 12 strikeouts over six innings versus McKendree on Feb. 14.

Senior Louis Magers (Mankato, Minn.) was named to the All-NSIC First Team as a pitcher/utility player. On the mound, Magers appeared in eight games, logging 28.2 innings with 28 strikeouts. At the plate, he batted .310 with 14 home runs and a team-leading 60 runs batted in.

Senior outfielder Cole Yearsley (Yorkville, Ill.) earned First Team honors after appearing in 47 games with 43 starts. He batted .351 with 49 hits, including eight doubles and 14 home runs, which rank fifth in the NSIC and tie for the team lead. He also scored 50 runs.

Sophomore shortstop Jake Berkland (Wayzata, Minn.) was also named to the First Team. Berkland started all 49 games this season and leads the Mavericks with a .370 batting average (fifth in the NSIC). He has recorded 64 hits, including nine doubles and 11 home runs.

Junior right-handed pitcher Mack Crowley (Green Bay, Wis.) earned All-NSIC Second Team honors after posting a 6-0 record and a 2.88 ERA, which ranks third in the NSIC. Over 56.1 innings, he allowed just 18 earned runs.

Senior catcher Brandon Vlcko (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was named to both the All-NSIC Defensive Team and Second Team. He owns a .997 fielding percentage (fifth in the NSIC) and has thrown out eight of 22 attempted base stealers. At the plate, Vlcko finished the regular season batting .301 with 40 hits, including 10 home runs, while scoring 30 runs and driving in 34 RBIs.

Junior third baseman Charlie Schau (Park Ridge, Ill.) was named to the All-NSIC Second Team. He played in 41 games with 35 starts and is batting .331 with 40 hits, 25 runs scored, and 18 RBIs.