Regional Championship Performances Lead to Athlete of the Week Honors

Sawyer Stein – Iowa Central – Sophomore – First Base
Iowa Central first baseman Sawyer Stein continued his monster season with another dominant performance during the Region 11 Tournament. Across the weekend, Stein went 11-for-23 (.478) with three home runs, four doubles, nine RBIs, nine runs scored and three walks as he powered the Tritons to a Region 11 Championship and a berth in the North Plains District Championship. Stein has established himself as not only one of the ICCAC's top players, but one of the best hitters in the entire NJCAA. He currently leads the nation in RBIs with 109, ranks third nationally in home runs with 28 and sits inside the top 10 with a .467 batting average. Stein and the Tritons will now face Williston State with a trip to the NJCAA World Series on the line.

Carter Giesen – Iowa Central – Sophomore – Starting Pitcher
Iowa Central right-hander Carter Giesen delivered two gritty performances on the mound to help guide the Tritons to the Region 11 Championship title. Against No. 2 seed Kirkwood, Giesen worked six innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out four to earn the victory and keep Iowa Central in control of the bracket. Then, on short rest in the championship game against top-seeded Southeastern, Giesen returned to the mound and gave the Tritons another huge lift, tossing three innings while allowing just one run and striking out four. Giesen has been one of the most electric strikeout pitchers in junior college baseball this season, posting a 5-1 record with 94 strikeouts — fifth-most in the NJCAA — while carrying an impressive 15.02 strikeouts-per-nine rate.

*Article courtesy of ICCAC.