Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

D3baseball.com Team of the Week - Week 7

Apr. 1, 2026 - For the second time this season, a North Central College baseball infielder has earned a spot on the D3baseball.com Team of the Week, as second baseman Jackson Bland's flurry of extra-base hits secured him recognition among Division III's top performers.

Bland's three triples last week pushed his season total to five, tied for the fourth-most in Division III. He added a home run, a .500 batting average (9-for-18) and an .889 slugging percentage while scoring seven runs and driving in five during the Cardinals' 4-0 week.

Following North Central's series sweep of Carthage, Bland reached base safely in all 18 games with a 10-game hitting streak. He has recorded 10 multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games this season. At the midway point, he is hitting .397 with five doubles, five triples, 20 runs and 17 RBI while leading the team with a .511 on-base percentage.

Bland joins Yuhki Yamada as Cardinals selected to the D3baseball.com Team of the Week this season.

North Central is set to face Wheaton College on Saturday at Pfund Stadium in Carol Stream. The Cardinals have won four of the past five meetings with the Thunder and hold a 65-29 advantage in the all-time series.