Aug. 15, 2006

LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball junior Efren Navarro Jr. was named the Northwoods League Most Valuable Player for his play both on the mound and at the plate, the league announced.

Navarro Jr., who was also named to the year-end all star team, hit .278 with 49 RBI on the year in 49 games while playing a strong first base defensively for the Rochester (Minn.) Honkers, the second-straight year that he has played for the team. Navarro Jr. also was stellar on the mound, posting a 5-1 record with a 2.02 ERA and 41 strikeouts as the Honkers won the Southern Division with a 50-18 record. The 50 wins were a league record.

Monday night Navarro Jr. scored a run in Rochester's 7-1 opening-round playoff win against Madison in the best-of-three series. If the Honkers win that playoff series they will play the winner of the Thunder Bay vs. Duluth series for the Northwoods League title.

Rochester and Madison play again tonight at 5:05 p.m. (PT) in Rochester and game three, if necessary, will be Wednesday night at 5:05 p.m. in Rochester once again.

Navarro Jr. was one of 12 Rebel players who will return next season that are playing this summer in collegiate summer leagues all across the country.