Illinois Springfield outfielder Kaden Griffitts has been named the NCBWA Division II Midwest Region Player of the Week following a dominant performance in a key conference series win over Drury. Griffitts powered the Prairie Stars' offense all weekend, delivering clutch hits and piling on extra-base damage.

His weekend started in dramatic fashion Friday, when his first hit of the series was a go-ahead grand slam with two outs in the second inning, putting UIS ahead 5-4. Later in the game, he launched a three-run home run in the sixth inning to tie the contest at 10-10. He finished with seven RBIs in the opener.

He continued his hot streak in Saturday's doubleheader, going a combined 4-for-6 on the day with a double and two home runs as UIS secured a pair of victories. Griffitts capped the weekend in Sunday's 23-1 win, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Across the four-game series, Griffitts totaled nine hits, including four home runs, while driving in 14 runs. He batted .600 with a .667 on-base percentage and a 1.467 slugging percentage, while scoring seven runs and drawing three walks.

The big weekend also lifted his season numbers to a .440 batting average and a 1.404 OPS. He now has 37 hits, eight home runs and 38 RBIs, along with a .547 on-base percentage.

His performance came in a crucial matchup between regional contenders, with No. 25 UIS entering the weekend ranked third in the Midwest Region by the NCBWA and Drury sitting fifth. The series win is expected to have significant implications for both the GLVC and regional standings.

Griffitts also earned GLVC Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. A junior transfer from Heartland Community College, he is a native of nearby Williamsville, Ill.