Welcome to the weekly Top 5 presented by Northwoods League correspondent Bradley Smart from the blog Smart on Sports.

The weekly  top five hitters/pitchers rankings have come out, and the Madison Mallards and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters both grab two. No other teams repeat, while Alexandria Blue Anchor’s Andrew Sohn earns the top hitters spot and Wisconsin Rapids Rafter’s JP Feyereisen takes the top pitcher.

Hitters

A potent group of hitters make up the rankings, with the majority falling in the North Division. Just one of the Top 5, Donnie Dewees comes from the South. The top spot, however, goes to Andrew Sohn of the Alexandria Blue Anchors.

1. Andrew Sohn, SS, Alexandria Blue Anchors

Sohn has torn up the Northwoods league, hitting .363 over 49 games (tied for the league lead in games played) and has also added 29 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Sohn has been a bright spot for the 17-32 Blue Anchors, as he’s also scored 34 runs and bashed five home runs. Andrew plays collegiately at Western Michigan.

2. Marc Flores, 1B, Willmar Stingers

Flores takes the second spot for the second week in the row, as the 6-5 beast from the University of Hawaii continues his great summer. Tied for third in the league in home runs with nine, Flores has also added 43 RBIs (good for second) and 19 doubles, a mark that leads the league. He’s also scored 37 runs and has anchored the Stingers offense, who currently sit at 30-19 and in second place in the North.

3. Chesny Young, INF, Waterloo Bucks

The Waterloo Bucks are in first place with a 37-13 record, a 6.5 game lead and one of the big reasons for that takes third in this weeks player rankings; infielder Chesny Young. Over 39 games, Young is hitting .327 with 39 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples and a pair of home runs. He’s also swiped an additional ten bases and has 27 RBIs and an impressive 36 walks.

4. Donnie Dewees, OF, Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Dewees had the top spot in last week’s rankings, and remains in the Top 5. Over 40 games for the Rafters, he’s posted a .313 average with 32 RBIs, nine home runs and 39 runs scored. He’s also stolen another 17 bases and has walked 17 times as well. The North Florida product is definitely one to watch for, as he has a lot of tools- patience, power and speed.

5. Keith Curcio, OF, Duluth Huskies

Curcio was second in last week’s ranking, and just barely sneaks in at the fifth spot. It’s deserving, though, as he holds a .356 average over 48 games played. Curcio also 28 RBIs to go with 29 runs scored, and has walked an additional 23 times to just 18 strikeouts. He’s also swiped 23 bases, and is a big threat to opposing pitchers. Like Dewees above, Curcio can do it all.

Honorable Mention(s): Alex Martin, St. Cloud Rox; Jason Vosler, Thunder Bay Border Cats; Timothy Arakawa, Mankato MoonDogs

Pitchers:

The Madison Mallards snag two of the top five pitchers, and a third in the honorable mention section, but the top sport belongs to JP Feyereisen of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.

1. J.P Feyereisen, RP, Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Feyereisen returns for his second year as a Rafter, and this one is arguably more impressive. Through 20 appearances out of the pen, he’s 3-1 with eleven saves and has a 0.97 earned run average. Over the 27.2 innings he’s thrown, he has struck out 34 and walked just seven. He’s been a key component of the Rafters bullpen.

2. Adam Dian, RP, Waterloo Bucks

Dian has been incredible out of the bullpen for the North Division-leading Bucks, as he’s posted a 0.45 earned run average over 17 appearances, going 2-0 with six saves. He’s struck out 37 over 20 innings of work, and has walked just seven. He also has a 0.75 WHIP and baffles hitters, who manage a .119 batting average against him. Dian is definitely one of the top pitchers in the league.

3. Jess Amedee, RP, Mankato Moondogs

Amedee has been stellar for the MoonDogs, as over 18 appearances totaling 22.1 innings, he holds a 1.20 ERA and is second in the league in saves with 10. He also has struck out 38 while walking just 12 and has held opponents to a .202 batting average. Amedee has been crucial to the MoonDogs 27-22 record, as he’s been an anchor out of the bullpen.

4. Sam Forkert, SP/RP, Madison Mallards

Forkert has made 14 appearances (including one no-decision start) for the second-place Madison Mallards out of the pen, and is 3-0 with a 0.80 earned run average over 33.2 innings pitched as well as striking out 35 and walking just eight. He’s also added two saves and has allowed just 20 hits. Opponents are batting just .171 against him and his .83 WHIP is showing how dominant he’s been. He’s been reliable out of the pen and should help the Mallards on their quest for a title.

5. Luke Staub, SP, Madison Mallards

Another Mallard rounds out the Top 5, as Staub has been an ace for Madison. He’s 3-3 with a 1.56 ERA and has struck out 42 batters over 46 innings of work. He’s started eight games, and his three losses were due to poor fielding and mistakes, as he allowed just one earned run in each but picked up three losses. Pitching has been a key to the Mallards success, as Staub and others are second in both WHIP and opponent average and third in ERA.

Honorable Mention(s): Cam Verbeke, Madison Mallards; Kyle Bouman, Lakeshore Chinooks; Cameron Gianni, Mankato MoonDogs

Bradley Smart (@bradleysmart15) is a freshman in high school who is an avid sports fan who also writes about sports. He also has a blog, Smart On Sports where he writes about all kind of sporting news, from baseball to the Super Bowl.