Higgins lands National Honor to back up conference award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Bellevue University senior Payton Higgins (Cedar, Utah) has been named, by the NAIA, as the National Player of the Week.

Yesterday, Higgins earned North Star Athletic Association Player of the Week honors, following his return to the diamond in BU's weekend series against Presentation.

Higgins made his season debut over the weekend, playing in all four games of BU's series sweep of Presentation. After spending last year as Bellevue's starting right fielder and playing an integral role in the team's success, he was diagnosed with stage 4 small cell lung cancer during the fall while preparing to resume that role this season before the diagnosis. Over the past several months he has undergone chemo and other treatments at home in Utah with his wife and family by his side. He has continued to attend school virtually and work out as much as his body permitted him.

This weekend was Senior Weekend for BU and he, along with his family, made the trip to Omaha. He appeared in all four games in our sweep of Presentation, playing both left and right field while getting several plate appearances, scoring a run and recording an RBI. These will be the only games that he will be playing all year as he heads back home to continue his treatment.

Bellevue (34-8) takes their 13-game win streak, second-longest active streak in the NAIA, to Fremont, Neb. for a 5 p.m. first pitch against Midland University (22-14) at Moller Field on Tuesday.