Central Michigan University Athletics
Borglin, McKinstry Share Team MVP
6/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Alex Borglin and Zach McKinstry were named co-Most Valuable Players and senior Ryan Heeke garnered several awards during the Central Michigan baseball team's annual banquet.
Heeke, a senior outfielder, was named the team captain and he shared the Most Improved Player Award with Jordan Grosjean.
Borglin and Joe Houlihan shared the Kevin J. Young Memorial Endowment Award, which is named for the late Kevin Young, who earned the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 1994.
Heeke also earned the Chippewa Award, which is presented to the player who best represents the program's mission statement.
In addition, academic awards were handed out to Heeke, Colton Bradley and Grant Wolfram.
Pitcher Nick Deeg, who was drafted last week by the San Francisco Giants, was also honored for earning a spot on the Mid-American Conference All-Tournament team.
McKinstry, a sophomore shortstop and a Los Angeles Dodgers draftee, led the Chippewas with a .325 batting average. He collected a team-high 79 hits and led CMU with 12 stolen bases and a .415 on-base percentage. He also drove in 26 runs.
Borglin, a junior first baseman, hit .299 with one home run and 27 RBI. He led the Chippewas with five triples and ranked second on the team in hits (72), doubles (12) and slugging percentage (.402) while committing just two errors in 525 chances for a .996 fielding percentage.
Both Borglin and McKinstry put together 17-game hit streaks throughout the season.
Heeke, a senior outfielder, hit .291 and led the Chippewas with 16 sacrifice bunts. He also made just one error in handling 108 chances for a .991 fielding percentage. He ranked third on the team with seven stolen bases.
Grosjean led the CMU pitching staff with 26 appearances, all out of the bullpen. He finished 3-4 with a 3.77 earned run average. In 59 2/3 innings, he allowed 25 earned runs on 55 hits, struck out 54 and walked 22.
Heeke earned the award for highest grade point average among seniors, 3.78; Colton Bradley earned the award for highest GPA among underclassmen (minimum five semesters), 3.51; and Grant Wolfram received the award for highest freshman GPA, 3.35.
The most valuable and most improved awards along with the captainship is determined by a vote of the players. The Chippewa and Young Memorial award winners are selected by coach Steve Jaksa and his staff.
