KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its final Athletes of the Week from the 2026 baseball season. Fort Hays State’s Cooper Howell earned the Tigers’ first Hitter of the Week honor since week one of the 2026 season, and Washburn’s Gavin Willhelm claimed the Ichabods’ first Pitcher of the Week award in the 2026 season.
MIAA HITTER OF THE WEEK: Cooper Howell, Fort Hays State
Cooper Howell posted a slash line of .625/.750/1.250 in his final three home games as a Tiger, helping Fort Hays State to a 2-1 series win over Newman. The shortstop was 5-for-8 for the week with one home run, two doubles, five RBI and four runs scored. The senior hit a go-ahead home run in the fourth inning on Senior Day, putting the Tigers on top for good. He also walked three times and did not strike out a single time in 13 plate appearances. On defense, Howell converted on 19 of 20 chances at shortstop and was involved in three double plays.
MIAA PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Gavin Willhelm, Washburn
Gavin Wilhelm made the start in Washburn's series-finale, 5-0, shutout victory over No. 5 Pittsburg State in the regular season finale. Wilhelm tossed 6.1 innings, giving up just one hit and two walks while striking out five and keeping the Gorillas off the board. The junior pitcher earned the win to move him to 3-0 this year as Washburn picked up its third shutout of the season.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
MIAA HITTERS
Ian Luce, Washburn
Ian Luce had two hits and scored at least one run in all three games of the Ichabods’ final MIAA series, ending the regular season 1-2 against the No. 5-ranked Pittsburg State. The junior outfielder hit .429 across all three games (6-for-14) with three runs scored and three RBI. He also had back-to-back games with home runs and only struck out once in his 14 plate appearances.
Seth Winkler, Missouri Western
Seth Winkler turned in a productive three-game series against Rogers State, helping lead the Griffons to a pair of wins over the No. 9 Hillcats. Winkler started all three games at second base, finishing 5-for-13 (.385) at the plate with two runs scored and a team-high six RBI. He delivered his biggest performance in the series opener on April 30, going 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in the 10-2 victory. In the May 1 matchup, Winkler added another RBI, going 1-for-4 despite the Griffons falling 12-2. He closed the series strong on May 2, going 1-for-4 with an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base in a 5-3 win. Across the three games, Winkler posted a .429 on-base percentage and a .615 slugging percentage.
MIAA PITCHERS
Jackson Gamble, Missouri Southern
Jackson Gamble went 2-0 over his two appearances, pitching 5.2 innings with five strikeouts as Missouri Southern baseball picked up the series win over No. 24-ranked Central Missouri. Gamble allowed just two hits over both his appearances against the Mules. Gamble opened the series, pitching 2.0 innings while allowing one hit and no runs with a strikeout in game one. He then earned the win in the finale against UCM, allowing no earned runs on one hit with four strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work. Gamble improved to 5-0 in 2026 (4-0 in MIAA) with the two wins.
Cam Saleh, Missouri Western
Cam Saleh turned in a strong outing on April 30 against No. 9 Rogers State, helping lead the Griffons to a 10-2 victory over the top 10 ranked Hillcats. The right-hander worked 7.0 innings, allowing just one hit and one run while striking out three. He issued three walks and hit one batter but limited damage throughout, keeping Rogers State off balance and off the scoreboard for the majority of the game. Saleh earned the win and finished with a 1.29 ERA in the appearance. He threw 107 pitches in the effort, highlighting a composed and efficient performance on the mound.
ALSO NOMINATED:
HITTERS – Payton Mitchell [Newman], Blake Jones [Missouri Southern], Logan Myers [Emporia State], Zak Nelson [Rogers State]
PITCHERS – Dillon Dibrell [Rogers State], Gavin Wakefield [Newman], Brandon Chavez [Fort Hays State], Colby Deaver [Emporia State]
WEEK ONE HITTER: Derek Woolwine, Fort Hays State
WEEK ONE PITCHER: Colby Deaver, Emporia State
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WEEK TWO HITTER: Landin Midgett, Pittsburg State
WEEK TWO PITCHER: Cole Evans, Missouri Western
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WEEK THREE HITTER: Drake Lee, Central Oklahoma
WEEK THREE PITCHERS: Braxton Jones, Central Oklahoma & Colby Deaver, Emporia State
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WEEK FOUR HITTER: Noah Steele, Emporia State
WEEK FOUR PITCHER: Colby Deaver, Emporia State
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WEEK FIVE HITTER: Noah Steele, Emporia State
WEEK FIVE PITCHER: Colby Deaver, Emporia State
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WEEK SIX HITTER: Cole Kreisel, Central Missouri
WEEK SIX PITCHER: Gavin Williams, Central Missouri
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WEEK SEVEN HITTER: Andres Contreras, Rogers State
WEEK SEVEN PITCHER: Owen Schneider, Missouri Southern
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WEEK EIGHT HITTER: Jeremiah Cabuyaban, Northwest Missouri
WEEK EIGHT PITCHERS: Quinton Chindamo, Emporia State & Ty Blecha, Pittsburg State
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WEEK NINE HITTER: Miguel Cantu, Missouri Western
WEEK NINE PITCHER: Zach Horwith, Rogers State
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WEEK TEN HITTER: Dagen Brewer, Pittsburg State
WEEK TEN PITCHER: Ben Haug, Northwest Missouri
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WEEK ELEVEN HITTER: Levi Risenhoover, Washburn
WEEK ELEVEN PITCHER: Bradyn McClure, Pittsburg State
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WEEK TWELVE HITTER: Drake Lee, Central Oklahoma
WEEK TWELVE PITCHER: Ben Haug, Northwest Missouri
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WEEK THIRTEEN HITTER: Seth Winkler, Missouri Western
WEEK THIRTEEN PITCHER: Cam Saleh, Missouri Western
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WEEK FOURTEEN HITTER: Cooper Howell, Fort Hays State
WEEK FOURTEEN PITCHER: Gavin Willhelm, Washburn