GNAC Baseball Athlete of the Week Report #8

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Mike McLeer, Colby-Sawyer (Sr.)

Senior Mike McLeer had the best week of his career, batting near .700 over the course of four games. He led the Chargers to a 4-0 week where he tallied three different games recording at least three hits. He finished the week with a 3-3, and 3-6 performance against the Pilgrims to extend the Chargers win streak to eight straight wins while recording 10 rbis, nine hits, two home runs, 10 runs scored and a .700 obp and 1.231 slugging.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Carson Rath, Norwich (Jr.)

Junior Carson Rath turned in one of Norwich’s top pitching performances of the season in the opener of a key GNAC doubleheader sweep over Rivier University, throwing a complete-game shutout in a 2-0 victory. The junior right-hander allowed just two hits over seven innings, did not issue a walk, and struck out eight while posting a 0.00 ERA and 0.29 WHIP for the week.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Jacob Putnam, Colby-Sawyer (Fr.)

Freshman Jacob Putnam was a major factor during the Chargers 4-0 week to extend their winning streak to eight games. Jacob totaled two home runs, with one of them being his second grand slam of the season. He would also record five more rbis in the first game against Plymouth St. He finished the week with a .500 average, .611 obp, and 1.071 slugging with nine rbis, seven hits, 10 runs, and three walks.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Mark Whittington, Albertus Magnus - Whittington had a .625/.625/.875 slash line with two doubles and three runs scored on the week.

Dylan Watson, Colby-Sawyer - Watson got one win on the mound this week during his one appearance. He carried a no-hitter through 3.1 innings in the 7-inning game against New England College before finishing the game with a complete game shutout, totaling 4 hits with 4 strikeouts.

Tim Callahan, Lasell - Callahan had a well-rounded week, batting .474 (9-for-19) with six RBI's and five stolen bases.

Ryan Dennis, Mitchell - Dennis played a key role in leading Mitchell to a GNAC doubleheader sweep of Rivier University, batting .625 (5-for-8) with four runs scored, one double, and four RBI while posting a .667 on-base percentage and .750 slugging percentage. He recorded multiple hits in both games, highlighted by a dominant 3-for-4 performance with three runs scored and three RBI in a 10–0 victory in the opener. Dennis then followed up with a 2-for-4 effort with a double, an RBI, and a run scored in a 12–4 win to complete the sweep. In addition to his offensive production, he added four stolen bases on the week, creating consistent pressure on the basepaths.

Michael Ficocelli, Mitchell - Ficocelli powered Mitchell’s offense during a 2–1 week, highlighted by a doubleheader sweep of Rivier University, batting .429 (6-for-14) with three runs scored, four doubles, one home run, and seven RBI while posting a .500 on-base percentage and a .929 slugging percentage. He tallied a hit in all three games, including a dominant 4-for-5 effort with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI in a 12–4 win to complete the sweep of Rivier. He also delivered a key extra-base hit in the opener against Rivier, driving in three runs as part of a 10–0 victory, and added a double and RBI earlier in the week against Keene State.

Geffen Franus, Norwich - Franus paced Norwich offensively during a 3-1 week in GNAC play, batting .333 with five hits, three runs scored, two doubles, one RBI, and three stolen bases across four games. The senior outfielder was a steady catalyst in the Cadets’ conference sweep of Rivier University, going 3-for-7 with a double, an RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. He followed with a multi-hit performance in a split against Lasell University, including a 2-for-4 effort with a double and a run scored in the opener. Franus reached base in three of the four games and provided consistent table-setting production during a pivotal stretch of conference play.

John Horgan, Rivier - Sophomore John Horgan turned in a strong week on the mound across two appearances. He delivered a dominant complete-game effort against Norwich, tossing 6.0 innings while allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out nine. He followed with a scoreless inning in relief at Lasell. For the week, he posted a 1.29 ERA with 10 strikeouts over 7.0 innings, limiting opponents to a .86 WHIP.

Brandon Cahill, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) - Cahill continued his dominant senior campaign with another stellar outing in the first game of a GNAC doubleheader against Elms College on Saturday (4/18). The senior right-hander went the distance for the sixth straight start, allowing just three hits and no earned runs while striking out seven over six innings of work. He finished the day with a 0.00 ERA and a 10.50 K/9. Cahill currently leads the GNAC in ERA (1.24), strikeouts (61), and is tied for first in wins with six.

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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