The NMU baseball team has earned a bye for the third year in a row heading into the Conference baseball tournament. The Wildcats await the winner of the first round match up between Ferris State and Indianapolis. On the other (all Yooper) side of the bracket, second seed Michigan Tech will play the winner of the Finlandia-Lake Superior State game.

First round games will be Thursday at 11:30, beginning with the Ferris St-Indianapolis game and semifinals will begin Friday at 11 with the NMU game. The Conference final will be Saturday at 1:30.

NMU has signed a new recruit. Alexandre Kavelenkovich hails from Turistranich, Turkmenistan, which is on the Caspian Sea, just north of the major port city of Kasnovodsk. He is a 6'5" 205 lb left handed pitcher who also runs and is an avid outdoorsman. He qualified for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney in pistol shooting, where he placed 153rd. As a pitcher, he can throw a fastball upwards of 90 miles per hour and has a tough breaking ball.

NMU has placed several players on the 2001 All-Conference teams. C. W. Mayher lead the way for pitchers, earning the Hudson's Big-Rig Player of the Year Award. Centerfielder Brandon Wislocki and first baseman Ken Kwarciany also earned first team honors, while pitchers Jim Pool and Dave Peck, right fielder Bryan Wislocki, and third baseman Gordon Glas earned second team honors. Second baseman Eric Ingles got an honorable mention.

First Team All Conference
RHP- C. W. Mayher, NMU
LHP- Teppo Koivenen, Finlandia
Closer- Rico Suave, Ferris St
1B- Ken Kwarciany, NMU
2B- Shannon Manly, MTU
SS- Tyler Paulding, Ferris St
3B- Tommy Annomaki, MTU
OF- Brandon Wislocki, NMU
OF- "Hickory" Joe Milan, Indianapolis
OF- Bob Thorneton, Finlandia

Second Team
RHP- Jim Pool, NMU
LHP- Tom Escoverde, Ferris St
Closer- Dave Peck, NMU
1B- Mike Uski, MTU
2B- Tyler Durden, LSSU
SS- Lenny Helpinen, Ind
3B(tie)- Gordon Glas, NMU
Devon Shire, Ind
OF- Bryan Wislocki, NMU
OF- Toivo Kimmu, MTU
OF- Jack Narrator, LSSU

Another honor went to NMU pitcher Josh Pifke, who was named Frosty Treats Rookie of the year by the coaches. He is the third Wildcat to earn the award since it was introduced in 1983. Chico Korhonen won it in 1994 and Steve Foley took the honor in 1997.

James Haas was second place in the voting for the Public Radio Most Improved Award, which went to Finlandia pitcher Teppo Koivenen.

Final Conference Standings
Northern Mich 24-6 (38-9)
Michigan Tech 23-7 (37-10)
Finlandia 16-14 (23-25)
Ferris State 11-19 (16-31)
Indianapolis 9-21 (16-26)
Lk Superior St 7-23 (7-40)