MCAC Baseball Athletes of the Week: Week of April 27 - May 3

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

Posted: May 04, 2026

Rochester, MN -

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) has released its baseball weekly awards for the week of April 27 - May 3.

Riley Jax, a right-handed pitcher for Riverland Community College, has been named the MCAC South Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the second straight week. Jax started one game and appeared in a second game, pitching 7.1 innings for the week and going 1-0. He compiled a 0.00 ERA, giving up no runs and scattering four hits, while striking out six batters and walking only one.

Connor Larsen, first baseman for Century College, had another great week at the plate and earned his second consecutive MCAC South Division Baseball Position Player of the Week honor. Larsen went 12 for 19 at the plate, hitting .632. He hit two doubles and three home runs, drove in 13 runs, and scored 11. He also walked three times and stole a base, helping his Wood Ducks team advance to the postseason tournament.

Dominic Rose, right-handed pitcher for Ridgewater College, earned this week's MCAC Central Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week award. Rose made one start and two total appearances, and he went 2-0 on the week. In 8.0 innings of work, he gave up only two earned runs and struck out 11 batters. Rose scattered six hits through the eight innings and walked four batters. He had a weekly ERA of 2.25.

Matthew Bryant, second baseman for Alexandria Technical and Community College, earned this week's MCAC Central Division Baseball Position Player of the Week award. Bryant hit .643 on the week, going 9 for 14 at the plate, with two doubles and a home run. He drove in four runs and scored six, while walking twice. Bryant also stole a base. His dominant offensive performance helped secure the MCAC Central Division title for the Legends.

Damian Griffin, right-handed pitcher for Minnesota North College - Rainy River, has earned this week's MCAC North Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week award. Griffin delivered a dominant performance in his final regular-season start, pitching 5.0 innings without giving up a run and striking out 12 batters. He gave up only one hit and one walk in the win Griffin threw strikes on 68% of his pitches and averaged fewer than 16 pitches per inning.

Ben Bridges, second baseman for Minnesota North College - Rainy River, earned this week's MCAC North Division Baseball Position Player of the Week award. Bridges went 5 for 9 from the plate, hitting .556 on the week, with a double and two home runs. He drove in eight runs and scored six. Bridges walked six times and stole a base. His .733 on-base percentage helped the Voyageurs earn a spot in the Region 13 Tournament.

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

Riley Jax (Riverland CC) headshot

Riley Jax

Riverland Community College

SO / RHP

Adams, MN

Pitcher of the Week

Win-Loss Record: 1-0

Starts: 1

Appearances: 2

Innings Pitched: 7.1

Earned Runs: 0

Runs Given Up: 0

Hits Given Up: 4

Strikeouts: 6

Walks: 1

Noteworthy Information: Riley is averaging 7.02 strikeouts per game this season.

Team Record: 33-13 overall, 12-4 in the MCAC South

Connor Larsen (Century College) headshot

Connor Larsen

Century College

SO / 1B

Spring Lake Park, MN

Position Player of the Week

Hits/At Bats: 12/19

Batting Avg.: .632

Doubles: 2

Triples: 0

Home Runs: 3

Runs Batted In: 13

Runs: 11

Walks: 3

Stolen Bases: 1

Noteworthy Information: Connor is hitting .317 this season.

Team Record: 25-23 overall, 11-5 in the MCAC South