CORVALLIS, Ore. –
The following ten CCC student-athletes have been recognized as the Rize Laboratory Players of the Week for their performances during competition from April 24 - 30 2023.
Baseball – Player
No. 16 Lewis-Clark State College’s Sam Olsson was named the Rize Laboratory Baseball Player of the Week.
Olsson, a senior catcher from Eugene, Ore., put up a big week at the plate over Central Washington University and the Warrior's final conference series against Bushnell University. He went 13-for-23 for a .565 batting average while touching 24 total bases. He tallied two doubles and three home runs for a 1.043 slugging percentage with six runs and 10 RBIs. Olsson had multiple hits in all five games while being errorless behind the plate with 43 putouts.
Baseball – Pitcher
(RV) University of British Columbia’s Ryan Beitel was named the Rize Laboratory Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season.
Beitel, a sophomore pitcher from Surrey, B.C., struck out eight batters in a complete seven inning shutout while only allowing two hits to lead the T-Birds to an 11-0 victory over Corban University on Saturday.
Softball – Player
No. 1 Oregon Tech’s Kaila Mick was named the Rize Laboratory Softball Player of the Week.
Mick, a junior shortstop from Klamath Falls, Ore., led the Owls to six more wins against Southern Oregon University and University of British Columbia. She went 12-for-18 (.667) with four RBIs and six runs while touching 16 total bases. She had a double and the go-ahead home run against SOU to lead OIT to the regular season title. Mick also did not strike out while drawing five walks, stealing four bases, and making 16 total plays in the field.
Softball – Pitcher
No. 1 Oregon Tech's Kacie Schmidt was named the Rize Laboratory Softball Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season.
Schmidt, a sophomore pitcher from Beaverton, Ore., had another outstanding weekend throwing 23 total innings for four more wins on the mound. She struck out 21 batters while only allowing six walks and three runs against SOU and UBC, two top teams in the CCC. Schmidt currently ranks second in NAIA pitching with 23 total wins.
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Athlete
University of British Columbia’s Kiana Gibson was named the Rize Laboratory Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week.
Gibson, a freshman from Ottawa, Ont., competed in the 3000m Steeplechase on Saturday at the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational. She finished with an ‘A’ standard in first place by a time of 10:11.52, which is currently ranked top in the NAIA by 11.5 seconds.
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Athlete
Eastern Oregon University's Maggie Ledbetter was named the Rize Laboratory Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week for the third time this Outdoor season.
Ledbetter, a graduate student from Cove, Ore., had another dominant all-around weekend making the finals in all three of her throwing events against some strong NCAA Division I competition at the Oregon State High Performance Meet. She reached NAIA ‘A’ standards in the Shot Put (14.27m) and Hammer Throw (50.57m) and completed the Discus with a mark of 41.24m.
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Athlete
College of Idaho’s Daniel Butler was named the Rize Laboratory Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week.
Butler, a senior from Buhl, Idaho, recorded a pair of NAIA qualifying marks at the Oregon State High Performance Meet this week. He reached an "A" qualifying mark in the 1500m (3:51.52) where he achieved a second-place finish and followed up with a "B" qualifying mark in the 800m (1:52.92).
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Athlete
Eastern Oregon University’s Tanner Nett was named the Rize Laboratory Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week for the second time this Outdoor season.
Nett, a sophomore from Boise, Idaho, had another great weekend highlighted by his performance in the Shot Put (16.70m) where he finished third overall and achieved another "A" Standard mark which currently sits fifth nationally. At the Oregon State High Performance Meet this week, he also competed in the Hammer Throw (41.23m) and Discus (40.31m).
Women's Golf – Golfer
No. 1 University of British Columbia’s Sonja Tang was named the Rize Laboratory Women's Golfer of the Week.
Tang, a sophomore from Victoria, BC, added to her incredible season by adding another individual tournament victory, her fourth since mid-September. She fired a three-round total of 215 to finish -1. Her Wednesday round consisted of four birdies and only two bogeys and she was the only contestant to score under par. At the conclusion of the event, she was named the Tournament Medalist and CCC Player of the Year while leading her team to the Tournament and Championship title.
Men's Golf – Golfer
Bushnell University’s Caden Stubbs was named the Rize Laboratory Men's Golfer of the Week.
Stubbs, a senior from Eugene, Ore., finished -3 and won the 2023 Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship by five strokes at Emerald Valley Golf Course in Creswell, Oregon to be crowned the Tournament Medalist. He defeated CCC Player of the Year (Jorgen Viken - LCSC) by five strokes. His efforts led Bushnell to a second-place finish, one stroke behind No. 10-ranked University of British Columbia and four shots ahead of No. 20-ranked Lewis-Clark State College.