Rochester Community and Technical College sophomore Austin Baab has been named the MCAC Player of the Year in baseball.
Baab, a Wabasha-Kellogg grad, is currently hitting .445, 12 HRs, 57 RBIs going into the Region 13 Tournament today. His lofty numbers helped him win the state-wide award for junior college players.
Baab, an infielder/pitcher, was also named to the MCAC All-State team.
"Austin had a great season. He worked hard, and it really paid off for him," RCTC coach Steve Hucke said. "Austin is one of the very best to have played baseball at RCTC since I have been here. He is a great kid on and off the field."
Other Yellowjackets named to the All-State team include sophomores, Dustin Nelson from Mondovi, Wis., and Damon Nuss from Sumner, Iowa.
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Baab, Nelson and Nuss were also named to the All-Southern Division team include along with pitcher Blake Stelzer of Lakeville.
"All of these players deserve the recognition that they received," Hucke said. "They are all a great group to coach and be around."
RCTC (22-17) enters region play today as the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 Anoka-Ramsey (25-16) in the first round at 11 a.m. at St. John's University in Collegville. The Yellowjackets also play at 4 p.m. in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament, in which the winner will earn a berth in the NJCAA National Tournament.
