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S.D. – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference has announced its seventh edition of the Softball Players-of-the-Week honors Monday by the conference office. Cejay Hilhorst of Valley City State (N.D.) was named to its Player-of-the-Week. Alex Watson of Dickinson State (N.D.) was selected as its Player-of-the-Week.

North Star Athletic Association Softball Player-of-the-Week
Cejay Hilhorst – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’7″ – Senior – Third Base – Killarney, Manitoba – Hilhorst recorded a hit in all eight games this week, including a walk-off home run versus Waldorf (Iowa), as Valley City State (N.D.) went 5-3 record for the week. She extended her hitting streak to 15 games. Hilhorst’s best game came in an 11-2 victory over the Warriors, where she hit a 2-run home run to give VCSU a 2-0 lead and then a hit a walk-off 3-run home run in the bottom sixth frame, finishing the game with six RBIs.  For the week, Hilhorst posted a batting average of .536 by going 15-of-28 at the plate, drove in 13 runs and scored 9 runs. She recorded a slugging percentage of 1.036 with four home runs and two doubles. She swiped two bases.

North Star Athletic Association Softball Pitcher-of-the-Week
Alex Watson – Dickinson State (N.D.) – 5’10” – Sophomore – Pitcher – Bellflower, Calif. – Watson earned three victories and a pair of saves as No. 16-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) went 6-0 record for the week. She shut down Mayville State (N.D.) 8-0 in six innings, giving up three hits and striking out 12 batters. Watson added a victory and a save in relief in Blue Hawks’ doubleheader sweep over NCAA Division II Mary (N.D.). She notched a complete victory in a 2-0 win 11-inning over Jamestown (N.D.), recording 14 strikeouts in the game. She closed the week with a save in another Blue Hawks’ 7-4 victory over UJ. For the Week, Watson worked for 24 innings and did not give up a run and allowed eight hits. She struck out a total of 34 batters in five games (6.8 strikeouts per game).