Date Posted: 4/17/2006

MACON, Ga. – Mercer’s Josh Thompson and Jacksonville’s Aaron Parvey played crucial roles in leading their respective teams back to the top of the A-Sun standings, earning the Atlantic Sun Conference’s weekly baseball awards.

Josh Thompson led Mercer to a 3-1 record last week, including a sweep of Atlantic Sun Conference rival East Tennessee State on his way to receiving the Player of the Week nod. For the week, Thompson was 9-for-19 with three doubles, three homers, five runs scored, eight RBI, 21 total bases, slugged 1.105, was 1-for-1 in stolen bases and caught all four games, with 26 put-outs and no errors. The Pineview, Ga., started the week going 2-for-5 with a run scored against Georgia Southern, but he was just warming up for the weekend. On Friday against ETSU, Thompson was 4-for-5 with a double, two homers, including a grand slam, two runs scored and five RBI. In game one of the doubleheader on Saturday, the junior went 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run. In game two, Thompson was 1-for-4, but made the most of his hit, driving a three-run homer, helping the Bears secure the sweep. Thompson is now the A-Sun leader in home runs and RBI, with 11 and 40 respectively. The catcher is majoring in Business.

Senior Aaron Parvey carried the Dolphins on his back in the most pivotal game of the Stetson series over the weekend to earn Pitcher of the Week accolades. In the opener on Friday night, with both clubs attempting to save their bullpens for the Saturday doubleheader, the southpaw held the Hatters in check through seven innings of no-hit relief to allow JU to rally for a 4-3 win in 12 innings. The most impressive part of his feat, other than retiring the last 17 batters he faced, is that he had never pitched more than three innings in his entire career. Parvey has come into his own during the 2006 season. A member of the squad since 2002, Parvey has never appeared in more than 10 games until this season. In fact, his total appearances in 2006 (18) surpasses the senior’s previous three seasons (17) and his innings pitched (40.2) by far surpasses it (15.0). The North Ft. Myers, Fla., native is the most reliable reliever to come out of the pen by leading all relievers with a 4-1 record, a 1.33 ERA, 18 appearances, 19 strikeouts, 40.2 innings pitched and a .185 opponent batting average. Before a runner stole home against him during the Gardner-Webb series, he had not allowed an earned run in 17.1 innings. Parvey is majoring in Business.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week awards weekly during the 2006 baseball campaign.

The 11-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Florida Atlantic, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Florida and Stetson.