Feb 20, 2006
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Player of the Week
Jose Ortiz, Jr., Southern Connecticut (Jr., 3B, Waterbury, CT) - In a four-game series at 15th-ranked and unbeaten Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga., had 11 hits in his first 19 at bats for a .579 average. Scored six runs, drove in six runs and had a home run. Had a .737 slugging percentage and struck out only once in 19 at bats.
Pitcher of the Week
Daniel Fournier, Franklin Pierce (Jr., RP, Worcester, MA) - Fired six innings of one-hit shutout relief en route to first win of the season at USC Upstate. Entered the game trailing 5-2 in the fourth inning and held on for come back. Struck out 12 USC Upstate batters over the six innings of work, including the side in order in the sixth and eighth.
Co-Freshmen of the Week
Karl Derbacher, Southern Connecticut (Fr., OF, North Branford, CT) - Batted .375 in four games at 15th-ranked and unbeaten Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga. Was 6-for-16 with five runs scored, one double and four walks with a stolen base.
Scott Savastano, Franklin Pierce (Fr., 3B, Plymouth, MA) - Hit a team-leading .500 (5-10) with three runs scored, a double, RBI and stolen base to help take two of three at USC Upstate. Slugged .600 and posted a .545 on-base percentage for the weekend. Hit 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and stolen bast in a 9-3 win and went 2-for-5 with a run scored in an 8-5 victory.
Weekly Honor Roll:
Matt Anderson, Franklin Pierce (So., C, Medford, MA) - Hit a team-best .500 (5-10) with a team-leading four RBI to pick up two wins in three games at USC Upstate. Also posted a .615 on-base percentage and was error free in 22 chances behind the plate. Hit 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in a 9-3 win and was 2-4 with a walk and two RBI in an 8-5 win.
Mike Chambers, Franklin Pierce (Sr., 2B, Londonderry, NH) - Hit .333 (4-12) with three doubles, a home run, five runs scored, an RBI and stolen base. Slugged .833 and record a .429 on-base percentage for the weekend. Hit first home run of the season to break a 3-3 tie in the seventh in what became a 9-3 win. Was 3-for-4 with three doubles and two runs scored in an 8-5 win.
Joe Kahlden, Southern Connecticut (So., 2B, Norwalk, CT) - Had eight hits in 19 at bats for a .421 average in four games against 15th-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University. Scored six runs, had a double and a homer with five runs batted in.
Weekly Notes:
FRANKLIN PIERCE: Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 20 in last week's Collegiate Baseball magazine Division II Coaches Poll, opened its 2006 season by taking two of three at USC Upstate over the weekend. The Ravens are ranked first in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Northeast Preseason poll and 15th in the NCBWA's Top 25 preseason rankings. The Ravens are picked to finish seventh in Division II according to Baseball America. Junior Garrett Olson (Norway, Maine) is the No. 2 ranked prospect in Division II according to Baseball America and ranked No. 95 in BA's Top 100 College Prospects. It's the highest Division II ranking for a Franklin Pierce player after Matt Weagle (a sixth round pick of the Saint Louis Cardinals), who was ranked No. 4 in 2003 and marks the first time a Raven has been ranked in the Top 100. Olson belted the first pitch of the season at USC Upstate on Friday for a home run and senior Elliott Shea (Jaffrey, N.H.) slugged the second pitch of the year over the fence as well. Junior Kim Hart (Gorham, Maine) became the sixth active player in the Ravens lineup with 100 career hits with his four this weekend SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT: Coach Tim Shea's Owls, ranked 25th in NCAA Division II in the preseason, had a rough start with four losses over the weekend at 15th-ranked and unbeaten Armstrong Atlantic State University. Southern lost a 7-6 decision in 10 innings to open the season and was edged again, 8-7, in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader. Jose Ortiz, Jr., a transfer from UConn-Avery Pt., led Southern with a .579 batting average, banging out 11 hits with a homer and six runs batted in. Redshirt second baseman Joe Kahlden had eight hits and a .421 average with five rbi, a double and a homer. Freshman centerfielder Karl Derbacher, who played with Branford (CT) American Legion team which went to the American Legion World Series in the summer, batted .375 with five runs scored. The Owls are scheduled to play three games in West Virginia this weekend at Alderson Broaddus.
