St. Cloud Cathedral's Bob Karn was named the National Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches' Association in Division III.

Karn, in his 45th season as Crusaders coach, led the team to its second Class 2A state title in a row. Cathedral has won nine state titles overall with Karn as coach and takes a 50-game unbeaten streak into next season.

U's Mortell on elite list

Gophers senior Peter Mortell was one of 25 punters named to the Ray Guy Award watch list Wednesday. Mortell is the reigning Big Ten Punter of the Year and has averaged 44.3 yards per punt in his career, the best recorded mark in Gophers history.

JOE CHRISTENSEN

Etc.

• Of the 72 athletes at the University of Minnesota who received Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Awards for the 2014-15 school year, nine had perfect 4.0 GPAs: Becca Dyson and Marnie Kinnaird (women's cross-country), Jack Metcalf (gymnastics), Lisa Weeks (rowing), Kiera Janzen, Jessica Plant and Tori Simenec (swimming and diving), Katie Murgic (track and field) and Michael Kroells (wrestling).

• Mike Kvasnicka's two-run double in the seventh inning carried the St. Paul Saints to a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Champions at CHS Field. Joey Paciorek was 3-for-4 for the home team, Vinny DiFazio hit a homer and Jeff Shields got the win.

• Omaha announced the signing of seven hockey players, including two from Minnesota: defensemen Jordan Klehr of Lino Lakes who played for Shattuck St.-Mary's, and Jalen Schulz of Cambridge who played for the USHL's Tri-City.

• Macalester hired Matt McLagan, a St. Paul native, as its director of sports information.