April 23, 2003
Beaver designated hitter went 10-for-14 in five starts last week

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Bemidji State designated hitter Tony Klaers has been named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Co-Player of the Week, the league office announced late yesterday.

Klaers, a freshman from Elk River, Minn., used a stellar effort at the plate to become BSU’s first NSIC Player of the Week honoree this season. Klaers went 10-for-14 (.714) with two doubles, eight RBI and six runs scored in leading BSU to a 3-2 record last week. His 10 base hits represented 20 percent of the team’s total (10 of 50), scored six of the team’s 42 runs and had eight of the team’s 34 RBI. He notched a .765 on-base percentage (10 hits, two walks) and slugged at .857 while striking out just twice.

Klaers was 3-for-4 with a double, four RBI and a run scored in a 13-6 win at Minn.-Crookston, and went 3-for-3 with two walks, an RBI and three runs scored in a double-header split with Southwest State. The Mustangs failed to retire Klaers in six plate appearances.

In total, Klaers had a three-hit game, three two-hit games and a one-hit game for BSU last week. He has hit safely in eight consecutive games, hitting a robust .652 (15-for-23) during the streak.

Klaers shared NSIC Player of the Week honors with Minn.-Duluth’s Tim Battaglia. Battaglia went 5-for-7 (.714) at the plate in four games with two home runs, nine RBI and four runs scored. He went 3-for-3 with seven RBI in a double-header sweep of Minn.-Morris.

Wayne State’s Jared Hertzel earned Pitcher of the Week honors. He earned the honor over BSU’s Tyler Norland; Norland threw a four-hit shutout of Southwest State in Game 1 of an April 19 double-header.

Bemidji State stands at 10-20 on the season, 8-6 in NSIC play. The Beavers are back in action Friday, April 25 when they host Minn.-Duluth for a key four-game NSIC series as the team attempts a late-season run at an NSIC Tournament berth. First pitch on April 25 is set for 1:30 p.m. Central time, with the April 26 double-header getting underway at noon.