SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota’s Aleesia Sainz and Kori Wedeking swept the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Softball Peak Performer and Pitcher of the Week awards, respectively, league officials announced on Monday.
Sainz went 5-for-9 at the plate (.556) and drove in at least two runs in all three games of a road sweep of Kansas City. The Casa Grande, Ariz., native had a role in each of the Coyotes’ first three runs of a 5-3 win in game one where she drove in a pair of runs and stole a base. In game two, Sainz posted a double, a triple and drove in four runs while also scoring two runs.
In the weekend finale, she went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI and for the weekend, Sainz slugged .889 with a .545 on-base percentage. The Coyotes sit first in the League standings with a 5-0 ledger.
Wedeking went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 10 innings of work against the Roos where she allowed two unearned runs in her first outing. The Clarksville, Iowa native began her weekend by throwing a complete-game five inning effort with four strikeouts in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday. In the series finale, Wedeking came in relief and recorded her sixth win of the season by pitching the final five innings of a 7-0 win where she struck out four more batters on five hits.
PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Aleesia Sainz, South Dakota
Sr. | Third Base | Casa Grande, Ariz.
- Hit .556 in a three-game series sweep of Kansas City, going 5-for-9 with eight RBI
- Drove in at least two runs in all three games slugged .889 with a .545 on-base percentage
- Had a role in each of USD’s first three runs of game one, posted a double, triple and drove in four runs in game two and was 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in game three
- This is the second career Summit League weekly award for Sainz
Also nominated: Georgia Rea (Western Illinois), Sydney Nichols (Kansas City), Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage (North Dakota State), Lindsey Culver (South Dakota State).
PEAK PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Kori Wedeking, South Dakota
Jr. | Pitcher | Clarksville, Iowa
- Garnered two wins in 10 innings of work against Kansas City
- Struck out four batters in both games she appeared in
- Compiled a 0.00 ERA with two unearned runs allowed
- This is the first career Summit League weekly honor for Wedeking
Also nominated: Katie Noble (Kansas City), Lainey Lyle (North Dakota State), Shannon Lasey (South Dakota State).
2023 Softball Weekly Award Winners
February 13
Peak Performer: Bela Goerke, South Dakota
Co-Peak Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
Co-Peak Pitcher: Savannah Rodriguez, Western Illinois
February 20
Peak Performer: Emma Osmundson, South Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
February 27
Peak Performer: Katie Goelz, St. Thomas
Peak Pitcher: Paige Vargas, North Dakota State
March 6
Peak Performer: Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Kamryn Meyer, Omaha
March 13
Peak Performer: Bella Dean, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
March 20
Peak Performer: Carley Goetschius, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Paige Vargas, North Dakota State
March 27
Peak Performer: Carley Goetschius, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Kamryn Meyer, Omaha
April 3
Peak Performer: Aleesia Sainz, South Dakota
Peak Pitcher: Kori Wedeking, South Dakota
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