The South Atlantic Conference Announces Astroturf SAC Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, Mar. 17
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Catawba's Will Albertson was tabbed the Astroturf South Atlantic Conference Baseball Player of the Week, while Devan Watts from Tusculum was named the Astroturf South Atlantic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week for games played March 9-15, the League announced today.
Albertson, a freshman from Sophia, N.C., batted .800 with 12 hits, six RBI, three doubles and three home runs to lead the Catawba Indians to a 4-0 record last week, including a series sweep over League foe Lincoln Memorial. His biggest game of the week came in game one of the series vs. LMU on March 14 as he went 5-for-5 at the plate with three RBI and a school-record three long balls. He also chipped in a pair of three-hit games last week as he posted a hit in all four contests. Albertson slugged 1.600 percent and posted an on-base percentage of .833 in the four-game span. He reached base safely in 14-straight plate appearances to set a Catawba record. The award is his first Player of the Week plaudit this season.
Watts, a sophomore from Mooresville, N.C., posted a win and a pair of saves for the Pioneers last week. Against defending Southeast Region Champion Lander on March 12, the right-hander came in during the ninth inning with the tying run on base and recorded the final out with a strikeout to secure a 5-4 win. He was once again called on in the ninth inning vs. then No. 13 Armstrong State as he posted the final two outs of the contest to give Tusculum a 5-3 win on March 14. The next day, Watts came into the contest with the bases loaded and induced an inning-ending double play to get the Pioneers out of the jam. He went on to pitch 4.2 innings with six strikeouts to lead the Pioneers to a 10-5 win. He struck out eight batters and scattered just three hits to finish the week with a 1.59 ERA. The award is his first Pitcher of the Week honor this season.
Also nominated for Baseball Player of the Week: Brett Cash (Anderson), Brennan Allen (Brevard), Will Thompson (Lenoir-Rhyne), Evan Rogers (Mars Hill), JoJo Bradley (Newberry) and Jim Tolle (Tusculum).
Also nominated for Baseball Pitcher of the Week: Chris Ayers (Anderson), Zac Joyce (Brevard), Craig Brooks (Catawba), Ivan Vieitez (Lenoir-Rhyne), Hunter Boydston (Mars Hill) and Daniel Nations (Newberry).
2015 South Atlantic Conference Baseball Player of the Week
Feb. 3 - Dylan Richardson, Catawba
Feb. 10 - Jalen Shuffler, Tusculum
Feb. 17 - Thomas Spitz, Wingate
Feb. 24 - Bradley Brown, Wingate
Mar. 3 - Logan Augustine, Lincoln Memorial
Mar. 10 - Blake Houston, Catawba
Mar. 17 - Will Albertson, Catawba
2015 South Atlantic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 3 - Thomas St. Clair, Lenoir-Rhyne
Feb. 10 - Vince Apicella, Carson-Newman
Feb. 17 - Vince Apicella, Carson-Newman
Feb. 24 - Quinton Yocom, Carson-Newman
Mar. 3 - Craig Brooks, Catawba
Mar. 10 - Tyler Konzen, Brevard
Mar. 17 - Devan Watts, Tusculum