MAC honors for Tommy Hook, William Anderson, Brad Wood and Stephen Letz
The Mid-American Conference announced on Tuesday its All-MAC baseball team, with NIU’s William Anderson as MAC’s Freshman Pitcher of the Year and Brad Wood on the All-MAC First Team.
Senior Stephen Letz also garnered accolades, receiving All-MAC Second Team honors, while Tommy Hook was named to the All-Defensive Team at first base. Anderson collected All-MAC Second Team honors as well.
“I’m just excited for our guys being recognized for their achievements, both as individuals and as a team,” head coach Mike Kunigonis said. “These awards, though given to individuals, are really a testament to our team. It takes a full team for those guys to be successful and I’m happy for guys and the group.”
Anderson, a native of Columbus, Indiana, made 14 starts during the year, moving up to NIU’s No. 1 starter’s role during the Huskies’ spring trip. Anderson registered a 5-3 record with a team-best 3.56 earned run average while fanning 48 batters. As the No. 1 starter, the freshman posted a 5-2 record, including four wins in MAC play.
The Columbus East High School product is the first Huskie to earn Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors since the awards inception in 2014 and the first NIU player to earn a MAC specialty award since Jeff Zimmerman was named the MAC’s Freshman of the Year in 2011. In addition, he is the first pitcher since 2014 (Alex Klonowski) to earn all-conference honors.
“Will’s very deserving of the award; it was a no-brainer. He’s the only freshman pitcher to start on Friday night in our league and winning games at a high level, so for him to get that award is much deserved and I could not be happier for him,” Kunigonis added.
William Anderson’s Freshman Pitcher of the Year honor is NIU’s first specialty award since Jeff Zimmerman’s Freshman of the Year award in 2011.
A native of Orland Park, Illinois, Wood became the first Huskie since 2013 to earn All-MAC First Team honors at second base, joining Los Angeles Angels farmhand Klonowski. Wood started 50 games with 51 appearances, posting a .289 batting average with 37 runs and a .397 on-base percentage. On the diamond, the St. Laurence High School product posted a .957 fielding percentage in 279 chances, helping turn 31 of NIU’s 52 double plays this season. Wood also earned MAC West Player of the Week on May 2.
Letz, NIU’s No. 1 hitter heading into the tournament, registered a .305 batting average in 48 games this season, leading Northern Illinois University in home runs (8), RBIs (41) and slugging percentage (.489). Letz’s eight homers are the most by an NIU player since Zimmerman in 2011. Earning MAC West Player of the Week honors twice in 2016, the Dyer, Indiana, native is the first NIU outfielder since 2009 to earn All-MAC honors.
Hook, who returned to the NIU lineup after missing the 2015 season with an injury, is the first Huskie to earn All-Defensive Team honors since the team was founded in 2015. The Lockport, Illinois, native posted a .990 fielding percentage, committing only four errors in 396 chances while helping turn 34 double plays.
Most impressively, 2016 was Hook’s first season at first base for the Huskies, the sixth different position that the redshirt junior has played at NIU. At the plate, Hook posted a team-high .401 on-base percentage with a .267 batting average and 33 runs scored.
NIU opens the MAC Tournament in Avon, Ohio, tonight, taking on the Toledo Rockets at All Pro Freight Stadium in the final game of the first round. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. CST (on ESPN3).
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