Blake Schwartz of the 2010 Mankato MoonDogs was picked by the league coaches as the 2011 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year.  The hard throwing right handed pitcher had a succesful stint in the NWL in 2010 as he led Mankato in wins with a 6-3 record in 71.0 innings pitched and a 3.30 ERA. 

As a sophomore at Minnesota State-Mankato, Schwartz earned Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association Third-Team All-American honors.  Schwartz was also named NSIC Pitcher of the Year and Region Pitcher of the Year by Daktronics, Rawlings ABCA and the NCBWA last year while boasting a 10-2 record with a 3.79 earned run average to go with 64 strikeouts in 90.1 innings pitched.

Schwartz and the Mavericks start their 2011 season March 4th in Winter Haven, Florida against Slippery Rock.