SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State righthander Sam Schlecht and Oral Roberts outfielder Makani Tanaka secured the latest Kwik Star Summit League Baseball weekly honors of the 2026 season, League officials announced Tuesday. Both players received the first weekly award of their respective careers.
Schlecht earned his second win in as many starts, limiting Arkansas State to just two earned runs on four hits in six innings of work. The Jackrabbit sophomore fanned a season-high seven had a stretch of 10 consecutive scoreless innings snapped when he surrendered both of his runs to the Red Wolves in the sixth.
Tanaka hit safely in all four games for Oral Roberts last week, going 7-for-17 to post a .412 batting clip. After falling to Missouri State in midweek play, the Golden Eagles took two of three contests in Dallas, defeating Air Force 6-3 and host Dallas Baptist 8-6 Saturday.
The Honolulu, Hawai’I native doubled and finished with two hits in each of the three games in the Lone Star State. His solo home run in the sixth inning against the Falcons broke a 1-1 tie and was his second of the season.
Tanaka scored the go-ahead run in the second inning of an 8-6 win over DBU after both teams had plated four runs in the first. He finished the game with a season-high three runs and increased his batting average to .359.
KWIK STAR PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Makani Tanaka, Oral Roberts
Sr. | OF | Honolulu, Hawai’i
• Batted .412 with five extra-base hits and six runs in four-game split for ORU
• Hit safely in all four games, including three straight multi-hit games to close out the weekend
• Belted a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning of a 6-3 win over Air Force
• Garnered the first weekly honor of his career
Others nominated: Colten Becker (North Dakota State); Cardel Dick (Omaha).
KWIK STAR PEAK PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Sam Schlecht, South Dakota State
So. | RHP | Maple Grove, Minn.
• Carried a shutout into the sixth inning at Arkansas State to earn his second straight win
• Struck out a season-high seven batters and only allowed two earned runs on hour hits
• Claimed the first weekly honor of his career
Others nominated: Jonah Walker (North Dakota State); Nate Moquin (Omaha); Weston Rouse (Oral Roberts); Owen Marsolek (St. Thomas).
2026 Kwik Star Baseball Weekly Awards
February 17
Performer: Cooper Combs, Oral Roberts
Pitcher: Parker Puetz, North Dakota State
February 24
Performer: Carter Taylor, South Dakota State
Pitcher: Maddox Meyer, Omaha
March 2
Performer: Makani Tanaka, Oral Roberts
Pitcher: Sam Schlecht, South Dakota State
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