Coupeville Sports

   Coupeville High School grad Ben Etzell does his best Mariano Rivera imitation as a college closer. (Libby Auger photo)

Ben Etzell can’t turn around these days without someone giving him an award.

The Coupeville High School grad, now a junior at Saint John’s University in Minnesota, was named Tuesday to a pair of All-Midwest Region baseball all-star teams.

Etzell was a Second-Team selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association and a Third-Team pick by D3baseball.com.

The selections come on the heels of him being honored earlier this month as a First-Team pick by the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Two of Etzell’s teammates, freshman Wyatt Ulrich and sophomore Jake Dickmeyer, were also honored.

Dickmeyer, a pitcher, was a Second-Team pick by the ABCA, while Ulrich, the Midwest Region Rookie of the Year for his work in the outfield, was a First-Team selection by both groups.

Ulrich is eligible for All-American honors.

After working as a starting pitcher during his first two years at dad Mike’s alma mater, Etzell became the closer for the Johnnies this season.

He led Saint John’s with 18 appearances, going 3-1 with five saves and a 2.23 ERA.

Etzell held opposing hitters to a .183 batting average, lowest by any Johnnies pitcher.

Saint John’s finished 25-13 overall, 14-6 in conference play, making its eighth straight trip to the playoffs.