The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) recognized two local baseball athletes in former Tucson standout Mateo Sierras and former Ironwood Ridge standout Julian De Alva. Sierras and De Alva play for Rainy River.
According to a release, Sierras pitched a complete game 3-hitter on Saturday against No. 10 ranked Rochester Community and Technical College to pick up his first win of his collegiate career. Sierras gave up 1 earned run, struck out 7 batters, and had the walk-off game winning hit as he led the Voyageurs to a 7-6 victory. Through the 4-game series, Sierras went 6 for 12 from the plate with a double and accounted for 3 of the Voyageurs runs.
De Alva had a .417 batting average (5 for 12) in the four-game series with 6 runs scored, 2 RBI, and a stolen base. He was also responsible for putting out 9 runners including 2 separate double plays, with one of those unassisted.
This list will be updated all year in an effort to recognize all former local prep stars who have gone on to achieve either academic and/or athletic awards at the next level. These are not high school awards but collegiate and professional recognitions. NOT CHAMPIONSHIPS. If you are aware of anything I have missed along the way, please let me know.
Portions from news release.
We recognized 134 athletes in 2020 and 24 athletes this year so far.
Mateo Sierras/Baseball
Tucson/Rainy River
MCAC Pitcher of the Week (3/22)
Julian De Alva/Baseball
Ironwood Ridge/Rainy River
MCAC Player of the Week (3/22)
Samantha Loving/Tennis
Salpointe/Southwestern College
KCAC Tennis Player of the Week (3/23)
Samantha Quezada/Softball
Mountain View/Bethany College
KCAC Softball Player of the Week (2/22)
Delaney Schnell/Diving
Tucson/Arizona
NCAA All-American 1 Meter (3/19)
NCAA All-American 1 Meter (3/21)
Roman Bravo Young/Wrestling
Sunnyside/Penn State
NCAA All-American (3/20)
Zachary Bohnenkamp/Track
Canyon del Oro/Northern State
NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence (3/18)
Maggie Oliver/Swim
Sabino/St. Cloud State
NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence (3/18)
Jake Federico/Baseball
Tucson/Briar Cliff
Briar Cliff Athlete of the Week (3/15)
Turner Washington/Track & Field
Canyon del Oro/Arizona State
First Team NCAA All-American (3/14)
Kelsey Siemons/Basketball
Catalina Foothills/Colorado Mesa
RMAC Defensive Player of the Week (3/1)
RMAC All-Academic First Team (3/4)
RMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention (3/4)
Natalie Bartle/Basketball
Ironwood Ridge/Colorado Mesa
RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll (3/4)
RMAC All-Conference Second Team (3/4)
Summer Fox/Basketball
Pueblo/Black Hills State
RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll (3/4)
Lauren Wedman/Softball
Sahuaro/Colorado Mesa
RMAC Preseason Players to Watch (2/11)
RMAC Player of the Week (3/2)
Robby Wilson/Basketball
Salpointe/Arizona Christian
GSAC All-Conference (3/2)
Carlie Scupin/Softball
Tucson High/Arizona
Pac-12 Freshman of the Week (3/2)
Pac-12 Player of the Week (3/2)
Luke Morrison/Baseball
Cienega/Ozarks
ASC Player of the Week (3/1)
Emma Morris/Basketball
Tanque Verde/Chaminade
Female Athletes of the Week (2/16)
Bree Olson/Basketball
Pusch Ridge/ Hawai’i at Hilo
Athlete of the Week (2/3)
Mandy Lorenson/Softball
Ironwood Ridge/Ft. Lewis
RMAC Preseason Players to Watch (2/11)
Drew Hill/Baseball
Ironwood Ridge/Colorado School of Mines
RMAC Preseason Players to Watch (2/11)
Alfredo Villa/Baseball
Rincon/UHS/Adams State
RMAC Preseason Players to Watch (2/11)
Nick Gonzales/Baseball
Cienega/Pirates
BaseballAmerica No. 3 Pirate Prospect (1/19)
BaseballAmerica No. 51 MLB Prospect (1/19)
MLB Second-base Prospect (1/24)
Jake Engel/Baseball
Ironwood Ridge/Dixie State
All-Decade Team (1/7)