Monday, April 30, 2007

Macon, Ga. – The Atlantic Sun Conference office announced that Mercer junior, Billy Shaughnessy, has been named the Player of the Week. Campbell senior right-handed pitcher, Blake Herring, has been named Pitcher of the Week.

This is the first player of the week award won by Shaughnessy in his career at Mercer. Mercer catcher, Josh Thompson, won the first player of the week award of 2007. This is also Blake Herring’s first career pitcher of the week honor. The last Campbell pitcher to win the award was Quinn LeSage last season on May 1.

Billy Shaughnessy, Mercer (Jr. – SS – Roswell, Ga. – Finance/Economics): Shaughnessy hit .500 (8-16) with 5 runs, 4 RBI, three doubles, 10 total bases, a .688 slugging percentage, a .556 OBP and three stolen bases. Shaughnessy has taken over the team lead with a .335 batting average. He also made numerous outstanding defensive plays over the last week. Shaughnessy saved his best for the weekend series versus Kennesaw State hitting .615 with four RBI, scoring four runs, notching three doubles and all three of his stolen bases for the week.

For the season, Shaughnessy is hitting .335 with one home run, 22 RBI and 11 stolen bases.

Blake Herring, Campbell (Sr. – RHP – Snow Hill, N.C. – Physical Education): Herring pitched his fourth complete game of the year, scattering five hits and two runs in a Camel victory against Gardner-Webb. Herring struck out 8 Bulldogs in the Fighting Camels win. It was also the senior's sixth complete game in just under two seasons with CU. Herring is just 2-4 in his complete games, but Saturday's effort moved him in a tie for the A-Sun lead in the category.

For the season, Herring is 3-7 with a 6.11 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 73.2 innings pitched.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out Player and Pitcher 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

Matt Dallas, KSU (Sr. – 3B – Conyers, Ga. – Sports Management)
Had one hit in the opener vs. Mercer and finished the series with a pair of two-hit games.

Brandon Scott, Campbell (Jr. – OF – Bethel, N.C. – Physical Education)
The junior belted his first home run of the season Saturday against Gardner-Webb, and also added three stolen bases in the game.

Kyle Heckathorn, KSU (Fr. – RHP – Ringgold, Ga. – Undeclared)
The right-hander pitched seven innings and allowed two earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts in a, 2-1, loss.

Charles Lee, Belmont (Sr. – P – Brentwood, Tenn. – Accounting)
Allowed three runs over six innings on Friday against Lipscomb, to move to 7-1 on the year.

Brantley New, Mercer (Sr. – RHP – Dublin, Ga. – Business Management)
Pitched eight strong innings for the win over Kennesaw State, striking out 7 Owls and only allowing one run.

Rob Smithson, Lipscomb (Sr. – RHP – Franklin, Tenn. – Engineering Mechanics)
Smithson threw a complete game allowing two runs while striking out eight to help the Bisons avoid a sweep by rival Belmont.