Aaron Wiers Named MIAA's Most Valuable Baseball Player
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - For the second straight year, Calvin senior Aaron Wiers has
been named the MIAA's Most Valuable Player in baseball. In addition, Wiers has
also earned a spot on the All-MIAA first team for the third consecutive year.
Wiers is one of nine Calvin players to receive All-MIAA accolades.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Wiers is just the fourth player in MIAA baseball
history to receive MVP honors in back-to-back years. A 6-4 lefthander, Wiers
was a multi-dimensional impact player for the Knights this spring as he served
as one of Calvin's aces in the starting pitching rotation while also playing
first base when not on the mound. As a pitcher, Wiers compiled a 6-2 record
along with a 2.39 ERA, striking out 50 batters in 49 innings of work. In
conference play, Wiers led the MIAA in victories with a perfect 5-0 record. He
also led the league in strikeouts and finished second in ERA as he struck out 38
batters and produced a 2.25 conference ERA. Wiers finished his career with 112
strikeouts in conference games to move into third place on the all-time MIAA
strikeout list. At first base, Wiers was flawless this spring, compiling a
perfect fielding percentage of 1.000 as he did not commit an error in 250 total
chances. At the plate, Wiers batted .343 with a team-leading 28 RBI's, 23 runs
scored, 22 walks and six home runs. Over the course of the spring, Wiers came up
with a sizzling .611 slugging percentage as he collected 15 extra-base hits. In
conference play, Wiers finished fourth in the MIAA batting race with a .423
average. He also finished second in home runs (5), total bases (42) and runs
scored (19) and third in RBI's (18).
Wiers is the ninth Calvin athlete to receive MIAA MVP honors this spring,
joining Marcus Byeman (men's soccer), Rhonda Volkers (volleyball), Dan Hoekstra
(men's cross country), Sarah Gritter (women's cross country), Jeremy Veenstra
(basketball), Megan Pierce (women's track and field), Lindsay Mulder (women's
track and field) and Phil Sikkenga (men's track and field).
Calvin also landed eight players on the All-MIAA second team in baseball as
seniors Ryan Wolthuis, Dirk Eppinga, Jason TeBos and Ross Hunderman along with
juniors Mike Ott, Ben Dykhouse, Mark Jansen, and Matt DeHoek were so honored.
Wolthuis is receiving All-MIAA second team honors for the second straight year
as a pitcher. A native of Kentwood and a graduate of South Christian High
School, Wolthuis compiled a 3-4 pitching record this year along with a 2.39 ERA.
In conference play, Wolthuis finished sixth in earned run average with a 2.77
ERA. Eppinga is from Walnut Creek, California and is a graduate of Contra Costa
Christian High School. Eppinga split time between first base and at the
designated hitter's position this spring and was named to the All-MIAA second at
the utility position. Overall, Eppinga batted .300 this spring with 20 RBI's
and 17 runs scored. In conference play, Eppinga finished 13th in the MIAA
batting race with a .367 average. TeBos is from Grandville and is a graduate of
Calvin Christian High School. A leftfielder, TeBos batted .292 overall this
spring and .333 in conference play to rank 17th in the MIAA batting race. TeBos
also led Calvin in steals with seven thefts on the year. Hunderman is from
Drenthe and is a graduate of Holland Christian High School. A centerfielder,
Hunderman batted .285 this spring while also finishing tied for seventh in the
MIAA in doubles with five.
A pitcher, Ott is from Grand Rapids Rapids and is a graduate of Grand Rapids
City School. While at City High, Ott played on the Union High School baseball
team. Ott fashioned a 5-3 pitching record this spring along with a 2.62 ERA.
Ott led the Knights in innings pitched (65.1) and finished second in complete
games (4). In conference play, Ott ranked fifth in victories (4) and seventh in
ERA (2.82).
Jansen is from Denver, Colorado and is a graduate of Denver Christian High
School. A second baseman, Jansen batted .274 overall this year with 16 runs
scored, 15 RBI's and three home runs. He also compiled a .956 fielding
percentage in 159 total chances while also turning 11 double plays. In
conference play, Jansen batted .328 to rank 20th in the MIAA batting race. He
also finished tied for fifth in home runs (2).
Dykhouse and DeHoek are both from Grand Rapids and graduates of Grand Rapids
Christian High School. Dykhouse took over the reins as Calvin's starting
catcher this spring and batted .204 overall with 13 RBI's and 13 runs scored
while finishing second on the team in stolen bases with six. Dykhouse also
finished with a .983 fielding percentage and threw out 60 percent of the runners
attempting to steal on him as he threw out 18 of a possible 27 runners on the
base-paths. DeHoek also stepped into a starter's role for the first time this
year as he took over at third base. DeHoek batted .264 overall with 15 runs
scored, seven doubles and one home run. In conference play, he batted .308 to
rank 25th in the MIAA batting race. DeHoek also posted a .932 fielding
percentage as he committed just five errors in 74 total chances.
Also receiving coaches honorable mention recognition from the MIAA were senior
shortstop Zac Jackson and junior relief pitcher Matt Schmitz.
A native of Kinsman, Ohio and a graduate of Pymatuning Valley High School,
Jackson batted .247 overall along with 11 runs scored and nine RBI's. In
conference play, Jackson batted .275 overall and batted in seven runs. Jackson
was also a sparkplug on defense up the middle as he helped turn 13 double plays
this spring.
Schmitz is from Ionia and is a graduate of Ionia High School. A closer out of
the bullpen, Schmitz led the Knights in saves with four while posting a 5-2
pitching record along with a 2.97 ERA. In conference games, Schmitz led the
MIAA in saves with two and also posted a 3.60 ERA.
Calvin finished the year with a 21-16 overall record and a 12-6 conference mark
which was good for a second place finish in the MIAA. With its 21 victories,
Calvin reached the 20-win plateau for the second straight year and for the third
time in school history.
-end-
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