Chicago, Ill. – July 30, 2018 – The Midwest Collegiate League has announced its final weekly award winners for the 2018 season.

Jack Kraus (Milwaukee / Neenah, Wis.) of the Joliet Generals was tabbed the MCL Player of the Week, while Max Franklin (Heartland / Chicago Heights, Ill.) of the Northwest Indiana Oilmen gained MCL Pitcher of the Week recognition.

Kraus became the second General to earn a weekly award this season and the first since June 11, while Franklin was the third Oilmen hurler to gain the MCL’s pitching distinction this year.

Kraus played a key role as Joliet (17-23) made a late playoff push, winning three consecutive games to pull within striking distance of the Bloomington Bobcats for the final playoff spot entering the last day of the regular season. However, Joliet dropped the finale 4-1 to Southland and saw its season end.

Kraus had hits in all five games he played this week including four multi-hit outputs. He went 11-for-20 (.550 AVG) while racking up seven doubles. He entered the week with four doubles in 25 games this season before seven of his 11 hits over the five-game span went for two bases.

Franklin helped the Oilmen start the final week of the season in style when he pitched NWI to a 14-5 victory over DuPage County on Monday. The right-hander allowed just four hits and two walks over six innings while yielding three earned runs against the first-place Hounds, all coming on one swing of the bat – a Matt Collins home run.  

Franklin (3-1) racked up 10 strikeouts in the victory, establishing a season high. That allowed him to finish the year with 45 strikeouts, tied with Christian Howell for the team lead and tied for fourth in single-season franchise history.

The MCL Playoffs begin on Tuesday with the Oilmen and Southland Vikings clashing at 7:10 p.m. at Oil City Stadium while the DuPage County Hounds host the Bloomington Bobcats at 5 p.m. at the Lemont Sports Complex. Game 2 in the Oilmen/Vikings series will be on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. at Oil City Stadium, while the second game between the Bobcats and Hounds will be at 6:30 p.m. at Illinois Wesleyan University on Wednesday.  

2018 MCL Players of the Week
June 5 – Stephen Mogged, DuPage County
June 11 – Jeremiah Lebron, Joliet
June 18 – Nick Figus, Northwest Indiana
June 25 – Nate Montgomery, Northwest Indiana
July 2 – David Giuliano, DuPage County
July 9 – Billy Mote, Bloomington
July 16 – Jake Plastiak, Northwest Indiana
July 23 – None 
July 30 – Jack Kraus, Joliet Generals

2018 MCL Pitchers of the Week
June 5 – Clifton Slagel, Bloomington
June 11 – Gil Loza, Southland
June 18 – Justin Rios, Southland
June 25 – Justin Ruthrauff, Southland
July 2 – Christian Howell, Northwest Indiana
July 9 – Quinn Gudaitis, Bloomington
July 16 – Connor Spear, Northwest Indiana
July 23 – Quinn Gudaitis, Bloomington
July 30 – Max Franklin, NWI Oilmen