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| Photo Credits: DeSales athletics photo Stevens athletics photo La Grange athletics photo |
Member institutions of the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth, Empire 8, and USA South conference picked up Hitter, Pitcher, and Rookie of the Week recognition for March 26-April 1.
HITTER OF WEEK
Tommy Epsaro, a junior third baseman from DeSales University, had a breakout week to lead the Bulldogs to a 4-0 record. Epsaro batted .583 (7-for-12) with four home runs, a double, two walks, 13 RBIs and six runs scored. The junior also recorded a 1.667 slugging percentage, a .643 on-base percentage and two stolen bases. He opened the week going 2-for-3 with two home runs, six RBIs and two runs scored in an 8-1 win over Montclair State. The Bethlehem, Pa., native finished the week going 5-for-9 with two home runs, a double, two walks, seven RBIs and four runs scored in a three-game series sweep of Eastern.
Past Hitters of the Week: Daytona Bryden, UW-Whitewater
Will Welsh, Lancaster Bible
Carson Cox, Concordia (Texas)
Ben Sexton, Emory and Henry
Joesph Belarde, Iowa Wesleyan
Honorable Mention Hitter: Colton Riley, fr., 1B, Penn College - Batted .800 in a pair of wins for the Wildcats last week. In an 11-9 win over Cabrini, the freshman first baseman went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBIs. Riley added a two-run home run in the second game against Cabrini to finish the week with five RBIs and six runs scored. Over the two games, Riley posted a .875 on-base percentage and a 2.400 slugging percentage.
PITCHER OF WEEK
Stevens Institute of Technology junior Charlie Ruegger turned in a masterful performance in the Ducks’ 3-0 win over Canton March 30. The right-hander and Morris Plains, N.J., native allowed just one hit and struck out 15 in posting his first career shutout. Ruegger allowed just one ball to leave the infield, didn't walk a batter and fell behind just nine hitters on the evening. He also turned in one of the top defensive performances of the evening with a barehanded grab of Travis Schindler's sixth-inning dribbler and a perfect throw to nab the Canton leadoff hitter at first.
Past Pitcher of the Week: Ryan Miller, Benedictine
Colin Coffey, Luther
Greg Schneider, Frostburg State
Patrick Mayback, Salve Regina
Jimi Keating, Spalding
Honorable Mention Pitcher: Austin Heenan, sr., Salisbury - Recorded 17 strikeouts and didn’t allow any earned runs in a pair of wins last week. Heenan posted 7.0-inning outings in wins over Franklin & Marshall and No. 11 Frostburg State. He allowed only seven hits in his 14 innings on the mound.
ROOKIE OF WEEK
LaGrange College’s Jack Layrisson, a native of Ponte Verde, Fla., went a combined 9-for-16 (.563) with a .579 on-base percentage and a .750 slugging percentage to go along with six runs scored, 12 RBI, one double, one triple, two walks and one stolen base as the Panthers notched a 3-1 record last week. In a 17-3 win over Oglethorpe, the infielder was 3-for-4 with one run scored, five RBI and one triple. In taking two games in a three-game series with USA South foe Piedmont, Layrisson was a combined 6-for-12 with five runs scored, seven RBI, one double, two walks and one stolen base.
Past Rookie of the Week: Shayne Audet, New England College
Isaiah Ausby, Cavenovia
Justin Provost, Rowan
Justin Green, St. Mary's (Minn.)
Tristen Luck, Methodist
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters, and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Player of the Year Award, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.