CornBelters’ McKenna named Frontier League Player of the Week

Posted on May 26, 2015
Pat McKenna
Pat McKenna had eight hits in 23 at bats with two homers last week. (Photo courtesy Normal CornBelters)

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL – Normal CornBelters’ veteran shortstop Pat McKenna has been named the Frontier League Player of the Week for the first full week of games for the 2015 season.

McKenna is in his fourth season with the CornBelters. He has hit safely in eight of his first ten games and recently saw hit six-game hitting streak come to an end on Sunday against the Washington Wild Things. On Friday night against Washington, McKenna led the offense in the 12-1 rout of Washington. He finished the game 3-4 with a home run, triple, walk, and six RBI.

Overall, McKenna finished the week with eight hits in 23 at bats including two home runs, a triple, double, and ten RBI. McKenna is in his seventh season of professional baseball after spending his first three years as a member of the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres’ organizations. McKenna was originally a 27th round selection of Detroit in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft out of Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

The CornBelters took Memorial Day off before beginning a six-game road trip on Tuesday at Schaumburg. The Belters return home for a six-game home stand on Tuesday, June 2. All games can be heard on WEZC-FM 95.9, WJBC.com and www.normalbaseball.com

The Frontier League players and pitchers of the week are chosen each week by Pointstreak, the official statistical provider of the Frontier League.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…