Evan Porter offered congratulations to Henry Zipay at practice Tuesday morning after the Omaha third baseman was named the Summit League baseball player of the year.
"I'm so happy for Henry. He deserves all the credit for the recognition he's getting. He's worked so hard ever since he stepped on campus here," the UNO coach said. "He's a great kid and a great competitor."
Zipay appreciates the honor. But Porter added that Zipay wanted to share credit with his hitting coach.
"He said his conversations with Coach Ruf made the difference," said Porter, referring to first-year hitting coach and former big leaguer Darin Ruf. "He feels their conversations have given him a more strategic approach to each at-bat. He had a plan going into each at-bat this year and you could see that on the field."
After hitting .303 last season, Zipay has hovered around the .400 mark most of this spring. He's currently batting .397 as he leads the Summit in batting average, on-base percentage (.488) and triples (5). He's also in the top five in the league in hits (69) and doubles (15).
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Zipay, an Omaha Westside graduate, has been a consistent threat for the offense as he's also currently on a 29-game on-base streak. He has 21 multi-hit games.
"Henry's such a good hitter," said fellow infielder Drew Borner after a win over Nebraska last month. "He's definitely the guy you want at the plate."
Zipay is the second Mav to be named league player of the year in the past four seasons. In 2022, third baseman Mike Boeve, currently in Double-A for the Brewers organization, took home the honor.
"Something about that third base spot," Porter said.
Outfielder Jackson Trout, who is batting .344 with 66 hits, and first baseman Tyler Bishop, the team leader in homers (8) and RBIs (48), joined Zipay on the all-league first team.
"Jackson made a jump from last year to this year, and Tyler had a great year last year and followed up on that, which isn't easy to do," Porter said.
Pitcher Ben Weber was on the second team, while Tyler Palmer and Tanner Foertsch were honorable mention.
The Summit pitcher of the year is North Dakota State's Nolan Johnson. Omaha is expected to see Johnson on Wednesday night when the Summit League tournament begins at Anderson Field.
Photos: Creighton baseball hosts Omaha
Omaha's Jackson Trout (20) high-fives Mason Gaines (22) after Trout scored on a two-run home run hit by Tyler Bishop during the first inning of a college baseball game against Creighton at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Omaha's Luke Gainer (18) pitches during the sixth inning of a college baseball game against Creighton at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Omaha's Sam Beck (21) runs to first base with Creighton's Will MacLean (17) looking to catch the ball during the sixth inning of a college baseball game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Kyle Hess (15) slides to home base to score a run during the fifth inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Omaha's Cardel Dick (19) is welcomed into the dugout by teammates after scoring a run during the seventh inning of a college baseball game against Creighton at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Tate Gillen (20) looks to grab the ball during the seventh inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Young fans wave to try and get a ball during a college baseball game between Omaha and Creighton at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Noah Klein (38) pitches the ball during the fifth inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Henry Prindl (39) pitches during the first inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Omaha's Isaac Cychosz (8) pitches during the first inning of a college baseball game against Creighton at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Teddy Deters (4) rounds first base during the first inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Will MacLean (17) connects during the second inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Connor Capece (2) connects during the second inning of a college baseball game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Connor Capece (2) runs to first base during the second inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton pitching coach Billy Mohl talks with Jimmy Burke (31) and the Bluejays during a mound visit in the third inning of a college baseball game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Young fans cheer on and dance during the third inning of a college baseball game between Creighton and Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Noah Klein (38) pitches during the third inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Omaha's Ben Weber (31) pitches during the third inning of a college baseball game against Creighton at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Teddy Deters (4) connects for an RBI single during the third inning of a college baseball game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Omaha's Drew Borner (24) swings at the ball during the sixth inning of a college baseball game against Creighton at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Omaha's Henry Zipay (1) leads off of second base while Creighton's Matthew Aukerman (50) pitches during the fifth inning of a college baseball game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Greyson McWilliams, 8, waves his baseball glove during a college baseball game between Omaha and Creighton at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Ben North (11) grabs the ball during the seventh inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Omaha's Carter Mick (37) pitches during the fifth inning of a college baseball game against Creighton at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton players watch from the dugout during the seventh inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Tate Gillen (20) catches the ball during the eighth inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Shane Curtin (30) pitches the ball during the seventh inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Creighton's Teddy Deters (4) swings at the ball during the eighth inning of a college baseball game against Omaha at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Omaha's Zeke Minic (33) celebrates with Oliver Mabee (17) after their win over Creighton in a college baseball game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
