Monday, February 06, 2006

Macon, Ga. – Mercer’s John Dortch and Brantley New swept the first Atlantic Sun Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week awards of 2006 after leading the Bears to a season-opening series victory versus Florida A&M.

Dortch scored a team-high five runs while adding three RBI’s in the opening three-game set with the Rattlers. Dortch finished the series with a .556 (5-for-9) average, including a pair of multi-hit games. The sophomore added his first homer of the season in game two and picked up an outfield assist in the series finale after cutting down a FAMU runner at the plate. The Tallahassee, Fla., native is majoring in Biomedical Engineering.

New received the nod to start the season opener for Mercer and did not disappoint. The preseason All-Atlantic Sun selection hurled 5.0 innings, surrendering just one hit and an unearned run while mowing down nine Florida A&M batters. The Dublin, Ga., native is majoring in business. New, a junior right-hander, is scheduled to return to the mound on Friday when the Bears continue their season-opening six-game homestand versus VMI.

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.

OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
• Kyle DeVries, Jacksonville (Sr. - LHP – Holland, Mich. – Sports Administration Major)
Earned win in JU opener after allowing just one run and two hits in 4.0 innings of work

• Thomas LePage, Jacksonville (Jr. - DH – Jacksonville, Fla. – Business Administration Major)
Drove in four runs while going 3-for-5 at the plate in season-opening victory

• C.J. Lee, ETSU (Jr. – OF – Bristol, Va. – Sport Management Major)
Posted .444 average in season-opening doubleheader with Eastern Michigan including a two-run homer

• Ovy Ramirez, FAU (Jr. – 2B – Miami, Fla. – Social Science Major)
Hit a team-high .556 with three RBI versus nationally ranked Tennessee