Top Ten Moments Countdown: #7: Most NWL Players of the Night

This past season, the Express had a team full of talented players coming from all around the country. As a result, the Express earned more offensive “NWL Player of the Night” honors than any other NWL team. The Express’s eight “Players of the Night” were the highest number of individual players earning the honor as well as the highest number of “Player of the Night” awards for one team. Here is a list of all those who received “NWL Player of the Night” Honors in 2014.

Tyler Jones May 28^th

The Express were rained out of their first game of the 2014 season. While that rain out may have put a damper on opening night, it did not discourage Tyler Jones from coming out in full force the following night during a swept double header versus the Lakeshore Chinooks. Tyler Jones went 2-6 on the night adding two walks and three RBI including a walk in game two that set up the winning run in a 3-2 win for the Express.

Tyler Hermann June 22^nd

Almost one month after Tyler Jones’s “Player of the Night” performance, all-star Tyler Hermann, went 5-6 with two runs, a double, a home run, and four RBI in a 10-5 win over Alexandria. Hermann’s five-hit performance was tied for the most hits in a game for an Express player all season.

Brian Mundell July 5^th

Just when you thought nothing could match the July 4^th fireworks show at Carson Park, Brian Mundell added to the spectacle by earning “NWL Player of the Night” honors for batting in five runs in a 9-2 victory for the Express over the Mankato Moondogs. Mundell went 2-4 including a bases-loaded triple in the first that set the Express in front for the rest of the game.

Mike Barajas July 8^th

Just three days after Mundell earned the NWL honor, Mike Barajas added his own “NWL Player of the Night” performance helping the Express to a 5-1 win. Barajas went 3-3 on the night, providing some timely hitting that drove in the four runs that proved to be the difference in the game. Barajas had RBI in the eighth and ninth innings to help secure the victory for the Express.

Jeff Hendrix July 10^th

The Express continued their “NWL Player of the Night” hot streak (and a six-game winning streak) when Jeff Hendrix helped the Express to an 11-inning victory over Thunder Bay north of the border on July 10^th. Hendrix had a two-run double in the third inning. With two on in the 11^th inning, Hendrix crushed a three-run homer to right center to give the Express the extra-inning victory.

Drew Turbin July 28^th

Drew Turbin reached base in all of his five plate appearances against Duluth, helping the Express push past the Huskies on July 28^th. Tubrin went 4-4 with a walk, had three runs scored and added an RBI to his stat line on the night.

Peter Van Gansen August 1^st

Peter Van Gansen was named “NWL Player of the Night,” on potentially the best offensive night of the season for the Express; a 16-hit 18-11 victory over the Blue Anchors in Alexandria. Van Gansen went 3-5 on the night with an Express season high of six RBI adding three runs to the team total. Van Gansen’s only home run of the season came in this gamewhich can be viewed below.

Van Gansen Home Run 8-1-14

Alex Call August 8^th

The final Express “NWL Player of the Night” during the 2014 season was Alex Call. Call led the Express to a 16-11 victory over Willmar at Carson Park hitting one of the two grand slams of the season for the Express. Call had three hits on the night and crossed the plate three times to add to the five RBI he had in the game.

Congratulations to all the Express players named “NWL Player of the Night” during the 2014 season!