MCAC Baseball Athletes of the Week: Week of March 16-22

Ben Bridges (MNC-Rainy River) hitting a baseball.

Posted: Mar 23, 2026

Rochester, MN -

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) has released its baseball weekly awards for the week of March 16-22.

Tucker Brandner, a right-handed pitcher for Minnesota West Community and Technical College, has been named this week's MCAC South Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week. Brandner started one game and pitched 4 innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits. He struck out eight batters and walked seven.

Ales Zhao, first baseman for Minnesota West Community and Technical College, earned this week's MCAC South Division Baseball Position Player of the Week honor. Zhao went six for ten at the plate, hitting .600, with three doubles and a home run. He drove in three runs and scored five, while walking three times. Zhao also stole five bases.

Alexandria Technical and Community College left-handed pitcher Caden Willmsen earned this week's MCAC Central Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week honor. Willmsen started one game, picking up the win in his five innings of work. He did not give up a run and struck out six, while giving up only two hits and no walks.

Jaxon Barker, catcher for St. Cloud Technical and Community College, was named this week's MCAC Central Division Baseball Position Player of the Week. Barker hit .500, going 9 for 18 at the plate with two doubles and two home runs. He drove in seven runs and scored nine, while walking five times. Barker was also hit by three pitches.

Minnesota North College-Rainy River right-handed pitcher Preston Dyok has earned this week's MCAC North Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week award. Dyok went 1-0 in his one start, throwing eight innings and giving up only one unearned run. He struck out five batters and gave up five hits. Dyok walked two and had a weekly ERA of 0.00.

Ben Bridges, second baseman for Minnesota North College - Rainy River, earned the week's MCAC North Division Baseball Position Player of the Week award. Bridges was 9 for 17 at the plate, hitting .529, with two doubles, a triple, and a two-run home run. He drove in six runs and scored nine. Bridges also walked twice.

As MCAC teams compile games and statistics, keep tabs on Conference leaders at the following links:

MCAC Baseball Statistical Leaders: https://mcacsports.org/sports/bsb/2025-26/leaders

MCAC Baseball Standings: https://mcacsports.org/sports/bsb/2025-26/standings

MCAC Baseball

South Division Athletes of the Week

Tucker Brandner

Minnesota West Community & Technical College

SO / RHP

Worthington, MN

Pitcher of the Week

Win-Loss Record: 0-0

Starts: 1

Appearances: 1

Innings Pitched: 4.0

Earned Runs: 3

Runs Given Up: 3

Hits Given Up: 3

Strikeouts: 8

Walks: 7

Noteworthy Information: Tucker leads the MCAC in strikeouts with 33 this season.

Team Record: 9-10 overall, 0-0 in the MCAC South

Ales Zhao

Minnesota West Community & Technical College

SO / 1B

Prague, CZE

Position Player of the Week

Hits/At Bats: 6/10

Batting Avg.: .600

Doubles: 3

Triples: 0

Home Runs: 1

Runs Batted In: 3

Runs: 5

Walks: 3

Stolen Bases: 5

Noteworthy Information: Ales also went 1-0 on the mound in his one appearance.

Team Record: 9-10 overall, 0-0 in the MCAC South