Former 51ÁÔÆæ right-handed pitcher Patrick Pridgen was selected Tuesday in the 15^th round of the MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers.

Pridgen, who played at 51ÁÔÆæ from 2018-20, was the 447^th pick of the 2022 MLB Draft.

Also, former 51ÁÔÆæ right-handed pitcher Jake Christianson was selected in the 15th round (464th pick) by the Tampa Bay Rays. Former 51ÁÔÆæ catcher/outfielder Ryan Wrobleski was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 20th round (613th pick).

Pridgen, who played last season at Florida International University, is the first 51ÁÔÆæ player selected since right-handed pitcher Harrison Beethe was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Pridgen is the eighth 51ÁÔÆæ player selected in the MLB Draft since the 2016 draft.

Pridgen, who was a sophomore at FIU last season, was 2-7 with a 4.77 earned run average in 71 2/3 innings pitched for FIU in 2022. Pridgen, who is from Apple Valley, Minn., struck out 112 with 44 walks last season.

At 51ÁÔÆæ, Pridgen compiled a career record of 8-4 with a 3.40 ERA. He compiled 97 career strikeouts, which is tied for 12^th on the school’s all-time career list.

Pridgen’s best year as a Trojan was the 2019 season when he was 7-2 with a 3.47 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 35 walks in 62 1/3 innings pitched.

Christianson, who is from Eagan, Minn., played for Feather River College, a 2-year school located in Quincy, Calif., in the 2022 season. Christianson was 5-3 with eight saves with 55 strikeouts and six walks for the Golden Eagles in 2022.

At 51ÁÔÆæ in 2019, Christianson was 1-0 with 16 strikeouts and six walks with a 3.52 ERA in 15 1/3 innings pitched. He also was 9 for 29 (.310)  with one home run and five RBIs at the plate.

Wrobleski, who played at Dallas Baptist from 2020-22, had a career average of .286 with 18 home runs, 20 doubles and 65 RBIs. Wrobleski, who is from Eden Prairie, Minn., hit .318 with eight home runs, nine doubles and 29 RBIs in the 2022 season.

In 2021, Wrobleski was the MVP of the Fort Worth Regional.

At 51ÁÔÆæ in 2019, Wrobleski hit .432 (16 for 37) with three home runs, three doubles and nine RBIs in 10 games played.

51ÁÔÆæ MLB DRAFT PICKS

2005 – Steve Salas (RHP) – 22nd round by the Los Angeles Angels

2016 – Malique Ziegler (OF) – 22nd round by the San Francisco Giants

2017 – Robbie Glendinning (SS) – 21st round by the Pittsburgh Pirates

2018 – Luke Becker (2B) – 9th round by the San Diego Padres

2018 – Evan Reifert (RHP) – 30th round by the Texas Rangers

2018 – Brandon Williamson (LHP) – 36th round by the Milwaukee Brewers

2019 – Brandon Williamson (LHP) – 2nd round by the Seattle Mariners

2019 – Bryce Ball (1B) – 24th round by the Atlanta Braves.

2019 – Harrison Beethe (RHP) – 39th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. 

2021 – Harrison Beethe (RHP) – 18th round by the Kansas City Royals.

2022 – Jake Christianson (RHP) – 15th round by the Tampa Bay Rays.

2022 – Patrick Pridgen (RHP) – 15^th round by the Detroit Tigers.

2022 – Ryan Wrobleski (C) – 20th round by the Houston Astros.

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LAS VEGAS – The National Association of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) has announced long-time athletics administrator Dan Mason as the association’s 2022 Hall of Fame inductee.

Mason was honored on Monday at the 2022 NATYCAA awards luncheon.

Established in 2004, the NATYCAA Hall of Fame was created to honor those outstanding individuals who have excelled in athletics administration on the local, regional and national levels.

Mason retired as the 51ÁÔÆæ athletic director on June 30, 2021, ending 27 years of service as a coach and administrator at the two-year college level.

Mason’s coaching career, which began in 1983, has spanned both the high school and collegiate ranks.

Although basketball is where he enjoyed the most success, his introduction to two-year athletics was on the diamond, where he was head baseball coach at then-NJCAA member Waldorf College for the 1986, 1987 and 1988 seasons.

Following his initial season in the dugout, he was approached about filling the vacancy for the men’s basketball head coach job and pulled double-duty at Waldorf for the next two seasons before going all in on the hardwood, beginning with the 1988-89 campaign.

In 1993, Mason made the move to Waldorf’s arch-rival, 51ÁÔÆæ, fittingly located in Mason City, Iowa. His first 51ÁÔÆæ team won 20 games but lost in the second round of the Region XI tournament. What followed was the most successful season in the history of the program.

The 1994-95 Trojans won the Region XI tournament to advance to nationals then captured the NJCAA Division II National Championship with a 64-63 win over Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College. 51ÁÔÆæ finished its championship season with a record of 27-6, and Mason was named NJCAA Division II Coach of the Year.

Mason coached the Trojans through the 1996-97 season, accumulating a career record of 69-61. After leaving 51ÁÔÆæ, he coached NCAA DIII Central College for seven seasons (1997-2004).

Mason returned to 51ÁÔÆæ in 2006, this time as the College’s athletics director, where he was responsible for every aspect of the Trojans’ 16 teams: scheduling, purchasing, hiring and evaluation of coaches, compliance, facilities supervision and preparation, concessions scheduling and purchasing, drug testing, student insurance, and student discipline. Through a dedicated commitment to leadership and unparalleled work ethic, Mason developed a culture of success that will carry on long after his retirement and, in the process, accomplished two of his main goals: building a new recreational center and re-establishing the College’s wrestling program.

Mason also served as a committed leader on both the region and national levels. He was NJCAA Region 11 Women’s Director for six years, and during the 2020-21 academic year alone, he held a seat on four NJCAA committees: Division II Volleyball, Division II Women’s Basketball, Division II Women’s Soccer, and Eligibility.

That year, Mason received the NJCAA’s prestigious Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award, presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to two-year athletics on a national level for an extended period.

A former collegiate student-athlete, Mason was named to the 1983 NCAA DIII All-America baseball team after posting a 14-1 record for North Park College, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. 

In 1983, Mason received a B.A. in Physical Education from North Park. He received a M.A. in Physical Education/Athletic Administration from Minnesota State University-Mankato in 1986.

Mason is also noted for his love of community. For more than quarter-century, he has been actively involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, speaking at numerous camps and clinics. In 2021, he received the Mason City Noon Rotary Club’s “Service Above Self Award,” the highest honor given for public service in the community.

About NATYCAA: Now in its 34th year, NATYCAA is the professional organization of two-year college athletics administrators and membership open to all two-year institutions from throughout the country. NATYCAA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 57^th year. For more information on NACDA and the 18 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com. 

Are you interested in attending 51ÁÔÆæ?  Apply Today!

51ÁÔÆæ, founded in 1918, is a nationally-recognized, two-year college located in central North Iowa.  With approximately 3,000 career and transfer students, the College has been recognized by the Aspen Institute as a leading community college in the nation.  51ÁÔÆæ welcomes students from across Iowa, Minnesota, the nation, and the world. The College has served as a leader in student-centered learning, community engagement, and collaborative leadership for more than 100 years.  

The post Former 51ÁÔÆæ AD Mason elected into NATYCAA hall of fame appeared first on 51ÁÔÆæ Minute.

The following is an update on the five former Trojans.

Bryce Ball of the Tennessee Smokies

Bryce Ball (Tennessee Smokies – Double A Chicago Cubs)

Bryce Ball, a first baseman, is hitting .287 (51-178) with 11 doubles, six home runs and 35 RBIs this season playing for the Tennessee Smokies, the Double A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
Ball, who prepped at Newman Catholic in Mason City, has an on-base percentage of .374.
Ball was a 24th round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2019. Ball was traded from the Braves’ organization to the Chicago Cubs’ organization on July 15, 2021 for Joc Pederson.
Ball, who prepped at Newman Catholic, played at 51ÁÔÆæ in 2017-18 and played one season at Dallas Baptist University in 2019.
At 51ÁÔÆæ, Ball had a career batting average of .362 with 135 hits (7th on school’s career list), 96 RBIs (tied for 11th on school’s career list), 21 home runs (6th on school’s career list) and 33 doubles (4th on the school’s career list).
In Ball’s one season at Dallas Baptist in 2019, Ball hit .325 with 18 home runs, 12 doubles and 54 RBIs.

Brandon Williamson

Brandon Williamson (Chattanooga Lookouts – Double A Cincinnati Reds)

Brandon Williamson, a left-handed pitcher, is 5-1 with a 3.97 earned run average in 45 1/3 innings pitched this season playing for the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Double A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
In Williamson’s last outing on May 27, he gained the win with a 4-1 win over the Birmingham Barons. The southpaw struck out five and walked two in six innings of work allowing one run on six hits.
Williamson, who is from Welcome, Minn., has compiled 48 strikeouts and issued 25 free passes.
Williamson, who was a second round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2019, was traded to the Reds along with outfielder Jake Fraley for the Reds’ outfielder Jesse Winker and third baseman Eugenio Suarez on March 14, 2022. He was also drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 36th round of the 2018 draft out of 51ÁÔÆæ.
Williamson played at 51ÁÔÆæ in 2017-18 and played one season at TCU in 2019.
At 51ÁÔÆæ, Williamson won 12 games, which ranks fourth on the school’s career win list. He accumulated 151 strikeouts, which ranks first on the school’s career strikeout list.
At TCU in 2019, Williamson was an honorable mention all-Big 12 selection. He was 4-5 with a 4.19 ERA in 77 1/3 innings pitched with 89 strikeouts and 36 walks.

Robbie Glendinning

Robbie Glendinning (Northwest Arkansas Naturals – Double A Kansas City Royals)

Robbie Glendinning, an infielder, is hitting .257 with six home runs, 11 doubles and 34 RBIs this season for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Double A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
Glendinning’s on-base percentage is .358.
Glendinning, who is from Perth, Western Australia, was released by the Altoona Curve, the Double A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on Feb. 21. The Kansas City Royals signed Glendinning on Feb. 22 and was assigned to the Naturals.
Glendinning was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 21st round of the 2017 draft.
Glendinning played two seasons at 51ÁÔÆæ in 2015-16 and helped lead the Trojans to back-to-ba
ck NJCAA Division II World Series berths. He played one season at the University of Missouri in 2017.
At 51ÁÔÆæ, Glendinning had a career batting average of .390, which ranks fifth on the school’s career list. He’s also the career leader for the Trojans in hits (195), RBIs (141), home runs (33), doubles (42), runs scored (151) and at-bats (500).
At Missouri in 2017, Glendinning hit .274 with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 30 RBIs.

Harrison Beethe (Quad City River Bandits – High A Kansas City Royals)

Harrison Beethe, a right-handed pitcher, was activated on June 1 by the Quad City River Bandits, the High A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
Beethe, who is from Fort Worth, Texas, was a 39th round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019. Beethe opted to attend TCU instead of signing with the Brewers.
Beethe was at 51ÁÔÆæ in 2018-19, was 0-1 with 15 strikeouts and eight walks in eight innings pitched in the 2019 season. Injuries limited Beethe during his sophomore season with the Trojans.
At TCU in 2020-21, Beethe struck out 12 and walked 13 in 11 1/3 innings of work.
Beethe was drafed by the Royals in the 18th round of the 2021 draft.

Evan Reifert (FCL Rays – Rookie league affiliate Tampa Bay Rays)
Evan Reifert, a right-handed pitcher, has appeared in five games and logged 3 1/3 innings of work for the FCL Rays, a rookie league affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. He has five strikeouts and seven walks while allowing eight runs on four hits.
Reifert, who played at 51ÁÔÆæ in 2018-19, was a 30th round draft pick by the Texas Rangers in 2018.
On July 24, 2020, Reifert, who is from Wilton, Iowa, signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
On Nov. 13, 2021, the Brewers traded Reifert to the Rays for third baseman Mike Brosseau.

Questions or comments?  Email kirk.hardcastle@niacc.edu

Are you interested in attending 51ÁÔÆæ?  Apply Today!

51ÁÔÆæ, founded in 1918, is a nationally-recognized, two-year college located in central North Iowa.  With approximately 3,000 career and transfer students, the College has been recognized by the Aspen Institute as a leading community college in the nation.  51ÁÔÆæ welcomes students from across Iowa, Minnesota, the nation, and the world. The College has served as a leader in student-centered learning, community engagement, and collaborative leadership for more than 100 years.  

The post Five former 51ÁÔÆæ baseball players are currently playing professional baseball with minor league affiliates of MLB teams. appeared first on 51ÁÔÆæ Minute.