Manning Hauls in Second Weekly CL Honor
JACKSON, Mich. – Brayden Manning hit for a .714 average with two home runs and a triple during No. 11 Taylor's four game sweep at Indiana Wesleyan, leading to him being named the Crossroads League Baseball Player of the Week for April 14-20.
Manning, a Lakeville, Minnesota, native was red-hot as he fueled and sustained the Trojans' offense to a CL title-clinching series with his 10 runs batted in.
The junior went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in each of the first three contests against the Wildcats, and he reached base safely in 14-of-18 plate appearances (10 hits, four walks) across the series for a remarkable on-base-plus-slugging percentage of 2.064.
Manning, who is slashing a career-best .370/.462/.617 in 2025, also displayed his versatility at IWU, handling all 20 of his fielding chances between left field and first base cleanly.
With Manning's second CL Player of the Week Award in a three-week span, TU baseball has now collected 11 total weekly CL honors this season, and Taylor Athletics has rounded up 56 league athlete-of-the-week honors over the 2024-25 year.
No. 11 Taylor (37-8, 28-4 CL) looks to add to its six-game winning streak heading into the final regular season series, facing Marian (23-22, 18-14) at Winterholter Field. First pitch of the series-opening doubleheader on Thursday is scheduled for 3 p.m.