Baseball America continues its tradition of recognizing the nation’s most impactful college players each week, and the latest edition of the National College Team of the Week showcases a blend of power, precision, and poise that defined Week 13.
Offensive Highlights
The lineup was headlined by a series of explosive performances that turned ordinary games into showcase moments. Gavin Kelly of West Virginia went 7-for-17 with four home runs, six runs scored, and five RBIs during a road sweep of then-No. 9 Kansas, while Ryan Niedzwiedz from SIU Edwardsville posted an 8-for-15 effort with five homers and eight RBIs in a series win over Eastern Illinois. Jarren Advincula of Georgia Tech added a power-conference-leading six stolen bases over three games, and Ace Reese from Mississippi State compiled 12 hits in 19 at-bats, including three homers, two doubles, and nine RBIs.
Roch Cholowsky of UCLA contributed a 6-for-16 showing with three homers, four RBIs, and seven runs scored, while Drew Burress of Georgia Tech collected six hits in 12 at-bats, half of them home runs, and stole two bases. Paul Contreras from Cal State Fullerton went 10-for-14 with two homers, a triple, nine RBIs, and four walks, and Jack Basseer from USC reached base in 14 of his 19 plate appearances, delivering eight hits, three homers, three doubles, nine RBIs, and seven runs.
Pitching Excellence
On the mound, Maxx Yehl of West Virginia delivered a complete-game effort, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out nine against two walks. Tennessee’s Tegan Kuhns turned in a career-high 15 strikeouts in seven shutout innings against then-No. 3 Texas, and Gonzaga’s Karsten Sweum tossed a seven-inning no-hitter with 15 strikeouts versus San Francisco. Luis Becerra of Cal Baptist fanned a nation-leading 19 batters in 8.2 innings, surrendering no runs and only one walk.
Historic Pursuits and Emerging Talents
Daniel Jackson of Georgia is making a push for a historic triple crown in the SEC, having already amassed 24 stolen bases while delivering a 6-for-10 performance with two homers, two doubles, seven RBIs, and six walks. Meanwhile, Caden McDonald from Florida has earned Team of the Week honors for three consecutive weeks, recently delivering 4.1 hitless, scoreless innings with six strikeouts and adding a home run and double at the plate.