Monday, February 05, 2007

MACON, Ga. – A-Sun Preseason Player of the Year, Josh Thompson has been named the Player of the Week. Teammate, Cory Gearrin was named the A-Sun Pitcher of the Week. Thompson and Gearrin led the Mercer Bears as they beat second-ranked Miami two times in a row this past weekend.

Thompson, batted .556 (5-9), with 3 RBI, 3 runs scored, 1 home run, 1 double, 1 BB and threw out 2 of 5 stolen base attempts during the Bears sweep over the second-ranked Miami Hurricanes.

Junior College transfer (Young Harris, Ga.) Cory Gearrin collected 2 Saves in 2 appearances against second-ranked Miami. He pitched 3.0 innings, with 6 strikeouts, 3 walks while allowing 0 runs. Gearrin was named the top newcomer and top prospect in the A-Sun by Baseball America.

Thompson was a mainstay in the Bears lineup in 2006. Thompson started 45 games behind the plate and hit clean up for Mercer. He gained national recognition for his efforts being named as a Johnny Bench semifinalist. Thompson was also named Second Team All A-Sun, and was a First Team All Tournament selection. He finished the regular season with a league leading 15 homeruns. Thompson was in the top five in the A-Sun in four categories homeruns, walks, RBI, and slugging percentage. Josh also graduated in May of 2006 from the Mercer School of Business.

Gearrin played his freshman and sophomore years at Young Harris College for Coach Rick Robinson. Gearrin helped lead his club to a 51-7 regular season record, while winning their conference title. He was named First Team All-State for his efforts. Corey helped Young Harris to a second-place finish in the GJCAA State Playoffs, being named First Team All Tournament. After the spring season, Gearrin headed to the Cape Cod Summer League to play with Cotuit.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out Player of the Week awards weekly during the 2007 baseball season.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.

OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
Ryan McArdle, Jacksonville
(Sr. - 1B – Suwannee, Ga. – Sociology Major)
For the week, he finished .500 (8-16), with three doubles, a home run, seven RBI and a .875 slugging percentage.

Justin Young, Jacksonville
(Sr. – Reliever – Oviedo, Fla. – Computer Information Systems Major)
Young was instrumental in leading the Dolphins to a 3-1 mark on the season by closing out all three of the wins last week.