INDIANAPOLIS—After successful season for both Ashland and Ohio Dominican, respectively, Jack Mathey and Brendan Beaver were voted as the top players in the Great Midwest for 2023. Mathey was picked as Great Midwest Baseball Player of the Year and Beaver the league’s Pitcher of the Year.
Mathey, an all-conference selection, mashed 14 home runs this season and drove in 46 with 54 runs scored. He totaled 71 hits with a .410 overall batting average and .414 in conference play.
Beaver was one of the most consistent pitchers this season, recording a 6-1 record in the conference. He registered a league-best 1.38 ERA, while striking out 83 batters through 78.2 innings-pitched.
Chris Franks of Ashland was voted the 2023 Freshman of the Year for an outstanding performance during his collegiate debut. Franks played as an outfielder and pitcher this season for the Eagles. He batted a .389 with 38 RBIs, while leading the team with seven home runs.
In his first year competing in the Great Midwest, Jake Sabol of Northwood University was voted as the 2023 Coach of the Year. Sabol led the Timberwolves to a conference-best mark of 36-16 (27-5) and a regular season division title. Northwood earned the top-seed in the conference tournament and lead the conference in several pitching statistics including ERA (4.23) and opponent batting average (.264)
Walsh’s Brody Ware was awarded the Elite 26 Award for academic excellence. Ware, a junior from North Canton, is a senior majoring in Finance.
The Great Midwest Baseball Championship features the league’s top-eight teams based on winning percentage. First-round games will begin Wednesday, May 10 at 11 a.m. ET as No. 3 Ashland faces No. 6 Walsh at Prasco Park’s Legacy Field.
Live coverage of all games will be available on the Great Midwest Digital Network. The top two teams after day three will advance to Saturday’s championship, slated for Noon ET.
Additional championship information can be found on the
Championship Central page.
A full list of honorees can be found
HERE.