Big performances land Holubowski and Rutherford MINK honors
Breakout performances from Jefferson City's Jack Holubowski and Chillicothe's Layne Rutherford earned the pair MINK League Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.
The two were pivotal in victories for the Renegades and Mudcats as each team works to solidify their place in the six-team MINK League postseason.
Jack Holubowski, Renegades
Holubowski has been a steady contributor in the field for the Renegades playing in 29 of 35 games in the field, primarily at first base, but his biggest swings of the season came this week in an extra-innings victory.
The Chesterfield, MO native crushed two home runs, drove in three, scored four times and walked four times in a come-from-behind win over Chillicothe.
And the Renegades needed every bit of it in a 12-11 triumph that they finally sealed in the 12th inning.
Holubowski's first big swing came in the bottom of the sixth inning. His solo blast tied the game 7-7. That score held until the Mudcats plated two in the 10th and appeared to be on the way to a huge road win.
Chillicothe quickly recorded the first two outs in the 10th inning without allowing the automatic runner to move off second base. Holubowski stepped to the plate and gave the Renegades a lifeline. The two-run home run, his second of the game and third of the season, knotted the game 9-9. Despite two more runs from the Mudcats in the next inning, the Renegades walked it off with three in the bottom of the 11th.
Holubowski played in four games during his freshman season at the University of Missouri.
Down to their final out, Jack Holubowski clobbers his second homer of the game, this time a two-run shot to tie it.
— Trevor Hahn (@TrevHahn3) July 12, 2024
Tied at 9 with two outs in the 10th.
Layne Rutherford, Mudcats
Rutherford delivered his longest outing of the summer in his first appearance out of the bullpen, and kept the door open for the Mudcat bats to claw back in a crucial game.
Sung-Bin Park's outing was cut short after a four-run first inning for the Renegades, but Rutherford was able to stem the tide.
After allowing one run on two hits in the second inning, the Grove, OK product locked in and quieted Jefferson City. Rutherford didn't allow another hit until the seventh inning, and allowed Chillicothe to take back all of the momentum. While he was on the mound, the Mudcats outscored the Renegades 11-1. The final score was 16-7 in favor of Chillicothe.
The final line on Rutherford was a quality start – had he opened the game on the mound. In all, he tossed six innings of one run ball on three hits and three walks while striking out eight.
Rutherford, a junior at Missouri Western State University, improved to 3-1 on the summer.
2024 MINK Player of the Week
June 11: Sean Bazmore, Clarinda
June 18: Cy Darnell, Jefferson City
June 25: Trevor McCollum, St. Joseph & Cam Lee, Jefferson City
July 2: Khi Holiday, Clarinda
July 9: Julio Guerrero, Chillicothe
July 16: Jack Holubowski, Jefferson City
2024 MINK Pitcher of the Week
June 11: Byler Reither, Jefferson City
June 18: Denton Biller, St. Joseph
June 25: Camden Lutz, St. Joseph
July 2: Cullen McBride, Carroll
July 9: Sam Pitts, St. Joseph
July 16: Layne Rutherford, Chillicothe