Kobayashi, Grant highlight BU's All-NSAA selections

NSAA Release

DICKINSON, N.D. -- Senior outfielder Kanta Kobayashi (Tokyo, Japan), sophomore catcher Logan Grant (Chestermere, Alta.), and 13^th-year coach Duane Monlux all took home major awards and 12 Bruins earned all-conference honors at Thursday evening's North Star Athletic Association awards banquet.

Kobayashi and Grant were named the NSAA Player and Newcomer of the Year, respectively, while Monlux collected NSAA Coach of the Year honors.

Kobayashi, a second team All-American a year ago, took home NSAA Player of the year accolades after hitting .402 with a 1.036 OPS. He led the team in batting average, hits (76), runs scored (67), doubles (14), and triples (2) while finishing second in on-base percentage (.491) and stolen bases (13) while playing errorless defense for the second-straight year in center field.

Grant collected the NSAA Newcomer of the Year award after a dynamic debut season for Bellevue. He took off offensively following an early season move from third base to catcher as he produced a .375 batting average and 1.084 OPS. His 63 hits and 57 RBI each ranked second on the team while his .483 on-base percentage was good for third. He displayed plenty of power, belting out 10 home runs and adding eight doubles and led the team by drawing 32 walks.

Monlux guided the Bruins to a 41-8 regular-season record, going 25-3 in league action to secure a fourth-straight NSAA Title, and winning his 500^th game at the Bruin helm. The award is the sixth for Monlux since BU joined the NSAA and 10^th in his career dating back to his time at Dickinson State.

In addition to earning their individual awards, Kobayashi and Grant each earned first team all-NSAA honors along with seven other Bruins. Joining them on the first team were first baseman Mathieu Sirois (.366, 1.178 OPS, 11 HR, 38 RBI), second baseman Drew Staley (.385, .971 OPS, 28 RBI), third baseman Nick Grade (.364, 1.180 OPS, 13 HR, 51 RBI), outfielder Jake Lacey (.333, 1.010 OPS, 12 HR, 65 RBI), designated hitter Conner Barnett (.339, .959 OPS, 30 RBI), and starting pitchers Dustin Schorie (7-0, 2.16 ERA, 59 SO) and Blake Crippen (8-2, 3.82 ERA, 62 SO).

Three more Bruins collected second team all-NSAA honors in first baseman Tradd Richardson (.358, 1.039 OPS, 30 RBI), outfielder Anthony Lind (.333, .994 OPS, 40 RBI), and starting pitcher Alexandro Celiceo (8-1, 4.27 ERA, 71 SO).

Starting pitcher Easton Brinton (6-1, 4.65 ERA, 54 SO) and closer Teron Williams (2-0, 3 SV, 2.04 ERA) were each recognized as honorable mention selections and pitcher/catcher Nathan Sprenger  represented BU as the Bruins' Champion of Character.

Bellevue players accounted for seven of the nine conference gold glove awards - Sirois (1B), Staley (2B), Grade (3B), Lacey (LF), Kobayashi (CF), Lind (RF), and Crippen (P) - winning each spot except catcher and shortstop.

The top seed in this weekend's NSAA Tournament, Bellevue kicks off postseason play tomorrow at 10 a.m. against eighth-seeded Presentation College (0-44/0-28 NSAA). The Bruins, already having been announced as an NAIA National Tournament Opening Round host, begin National Tournament play on May 15 at Don Roddy Field on the campus of Bellevue East High School.