Lakeland College

Ruzek, Nickel garner All-NAC awards

Athletics - posted on 5/15/2012

Lakeland College seniors Mike Ruzek and Jess Nickel were named to the All-Northern Athletics Conference baseball team, the league announced Tuesday.

Ruzek, a native of Manitowoc, Wis., capped off an outstanding career by earning All-NAC first team honors. Ruzek led the team in batting average (.386), hits (56), doubles (17), runs scored (31), RBIs (29) and innings pitched (64.2). He set many single-season records, finishing sixth in hits, second in doubles, sixth in batting average, sixth in ERA (2.51) and eighth in on-base percentage (.462).

Ruzek also finished with some remarkable career totals. He is first in on-base percentage (.460), second in batting average (.382) and fourth in slugging percentage (.503). On the mound, Ruzek finishes second in strikeouts (178), third in innings pitched (221.1) and fourth in games pitched (39) and games started (29).

Nickel, a Waupun, Wis., native, received All-NAC Sportsmanship honors. He finished second on the team with a .303 average, collecting 23 hits, scoring eight runs and driving in 10.

Anthony Even of Concordia University Chicago was named Position Player of the Year, while Aurora's Drew Gay and Eric Palmer was named Pitcher and Freshman of the Year respectively. Shaun Neitzel of Aurora and Steve Hardman of Dominican were named Co-Coaches of the Year.

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