The 2025 season is here and so are the weekly SSBR awards. Last year we began bringing attention to individual performances turned in by those on small college (NCAA D2, NAIA, NCCAA) teams and junior colleges.

Each week we send out nomination forms to the head coaches of each team in the various divisions above. We ask them to nominate only 1 position player and 1 pitcher with their stats for the week and any context they feel would help their player. We look at those nominations and choose the player or pitcher in each category that we feel had the best week. Also, each player or pitcher nominated will get recognized even if they don’t win.

This week was a little different as the weather caused havoc on the schedule. Teams played less games or no games at all so the sample sizes were smaller. Also, several weekend series weren’t completed until Monday, so we pushed back the award a day as well.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the winners for Week 9.

---

Small College

Player of the Week

Gavin Mendoza, NWOSU Rangers

NWOSU has had themselves an up and down season. After a solid non conference portion of the schedule to open the season, the Rangers stumbled out of the gate to start GAC play getting swept their first two series. Since then, the Rangers have gone 10-5 since then and would be in the postseason tournament if the regular season ended today.

Last week, the Rangers needed a big week after getting swept the weekend before by Arkansas-Monticello. They got that big week going 4-0 and sweept SNU. A big part of that week was Gavin Mendoza as he was electric for the Rangers including 2 grand slams on the week.

Mendoza’s line: G 4, .444/.545/.778 (1.323 OPS), 2 HR (2 GS), 12 RBI, 4 BB, 7 R

Other nominees:
– Peyton McDowall, USAO Drovers: 6-15, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 2B, 5 R

Pitcher of the Week

Brian Ereu, USAO Drovers

Coming off a year where he was named an NAIA All American, Ereu got off to a “slow” start (relative to his 2024 season). Lately, Ereu has been more like he was in 2024 – almost impossible to score on. This writer even saw Ereu not have his best stuff against MACU but still hold them to minimal runs allowing the Drovers to come back and win.

Ereu was back to his old self this past week as he dominated the College of the Ozarks striking out 14 batters.

Ereu’s line: G 1/GS 1, 1-0, CG, 7 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 14 K

Other nominees:
– Will Kates, NWOSU: G 1/GS 1, 1-0, 7 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K
– Elijah Tolsma, Cameron: G 1/GS 1, 1-0, 6 IP, 5 H, ER, 5 K
– Keegan Jenderseck, Randall: G 1/GS 1, 1-0, CG, 7 IP, 2 H, 4 K

---

Junior College

Player of the Week

Austin Haley, Murray State Aggies

This is the 3rd overall weekly award for Haley this season and his 2nd as a player. Haley has been on a tear this season and was just named a midseason All American by The JBB.

Austin was up to it again this past week as he led the Aggies to a 3-1 series win over Western just one week after splitting with NOC Tonkawa. Not only was Haley dominant at the plate, he contributed on the mound as well. In game 3, he gave Murray State 5 innings as well.

Haley’s line: G 4, .588/.611/1.176 (1.787 OPS), 3 HR (1 GS), 8 RBI, 2B, BB, 4 R, SB

Other nominees:
– Will Johnson, NOC Tonkawa

Pitcher of the Week

Carson Culbreath, Murray State Aggies

Culbreath has had mixed results so far this season, but there is no doubt the competition he’s faced contributed to that. It has turned out to help Culbreath in the long run as he has started games 4 the first 2 weekend Region 2 series.

This week, Culbreath had the best start of his season as he threw 7 innings of no hit baseball giving his team the absolute best chance to win as the Aggies won game 4 and the series from Western, 3-1.

Culbreath’s line: G 1/GS 1, 1-0, 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 K

Other nominees:
– Evan Rolison, NOC Tonkawa

---

Do you like the content that Sooner State Baseball Report provides? Show your support by purchasing an official SSBR shirt or hoodie at our online store at the link below.

Official Sooner State Baseball Report Merch

Like this content? Don’t miss any posts. Enter your email in the box below and have Sooner State Baseball Report content delivered right to your inbox.