Huntingdon’s Freeman and Gonzalez recognized by USA South
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Two Huntingdon baseball players were recognized as USA South Athletes of the Week on Monday.
Senior third baseman Jordan Freeman was named Baseball Player of the Week and freshman pitcher Jared Gonzalez was named Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week.
Freeman batted .500 (7-for-14) with four RBIs, three runs and three doubles in a three-game series at LaGrange. Freeman had a .714 slugging percentage and a .467 on-base percentage in the series. In nine games this season, Freeman is batting .378 with 14 hits, eight RBIs and nine runs.
Gonzalez earned his second win of the season in the final game against LaGrange. Gonzalez struck out five, walked three, scattered seven hits and allowed four earned runs in six innings. For the season, Gonzalez is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA, 10 strikeouts and five walks in 16 1/3 innings.
Below is the complete list of USA South Athletes of the Week.
Players of the Week
Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Mark Wagner, LaGrange - The junior guard from Cape Coral, Florida averaged 20.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per contest in a 2-0 week for the Panthers. In a 116-93 win over Taccoa Falls, Wagner totaled 13 points, four rebounds, four steals, three assists and one block. In an 83-68 victory over USA South foe Covenant, Wagner scored 27 points, grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists and collected two steals. Also Nominated: Charles Bryant, Averett; Jamal Pullen, Ferrum; Chris Meeks, Piedmont; D.J. Weaver, N.C. Wesleyan; Simeon Howard, Greensboro; Jaumonee Byrd, Maryville.
Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Mackenzie Puckett, Maryville - The Franklin, Tennessee junior guard averaged 21.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 steals per contest in a 2-0 week for the Scots versus USA South competition that helped secure hosting rights for the upcoming Conference Tournament. In a 78-65 win over Piedmont, Puckett totaled 24 points, seven rebounds, five blocks, three assists and two steals. In a 73-50 victory over Huntingdon, Puckett eclipsed the 1,000-career point plateau with 19 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Also Nominated: Brianna Taylor, Averett; Shaye Butler, LaGrange; Jacole Hairston, Ferrum; Brianna Barrett, Piedmont; Kenyata Harris, N.C. Wesleyan; Tiffani Stephens, Greensboro.
Baseball Player of the Week
Jordan Freeman, Huntingdon - The senior infielder from Prattville, Alabama went a combined 7-for-14 (.500) with four RBI, three runs scored, three doubles and one stolen base as the Hawks took two out of three games from USA South foe LaGrange last week. In the series-clinching third game, Freeman was 4-for-6 with three runs scored, one run batted in, two doubles and one stolen base. Also Nominated: Chris Power, Methodist; Clay Massie, Ferrum; Michael Barnes, Piedmont; Logan Jenkins, Maryville.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Eric Morell, LaGrange - The San Dimas, California junior earned a complete-game shutout victory in a 9-0 win over USA South foe Huntingdon in his only appearance on the mound last week for the Panthers. Morell went the distance and allowed three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Also Nominated: Josh Thomas, Piedmont; Garrett Kriston, Covenant; Christian Neal, William Peace; Jeremy Ibarra, Maryville.
Softball Player of the Week
Samantha Hall, Averett - The sophomore outfielder from Stoneville, North Carolina has gone a combined 13-for-20 (.650) with eight runs scored, two RBI, one walk and ten stolen bases as the Cougars have begun the season with a 5-0-1 record. In a two-game sweep of Bluefield College, Hall was a combined 4-for-6 with five runs scored, two RBI, one walk and three stolen bases. In one win and one tie versus Salem, Hall was a combined 4-for-7 with one run scored and four stolen bases. Finally, in a two-game sweep of Guilford, Hall was a combined 5-for-7 with two runs scored and three stolen bases. Also Nominated: Amanda White, Meredith; Adrienne Little, LaGrange; Lindsay Tippett, Methodist; Morgan Lane, Covenant; Becka Ross, Piedmont.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Mary Beth Smith, Averett - The Elon, North Carolina junior has earned a 3-0 record with a 0.70 ERA in four appearances and 20.0 innings pitched while allowing three runs, two of which were earned, on 14 hits with nine walks and 23 strikeouts so far this season on the mound for the Cougars. Smith earned a complete-game shutout victory in a 3-0 win over Salem while also going the distance in a 4-2 win over Guilford. Additionally, at the plate, Smith has compiled a .438 batting average with five RBI and two runs scored. Also Nominated: Sarah Walker, Piedmont.
Lacrosse Player of the Week
Cassie Walter, Methodist - The La Plata, Maryland senior midfielder has tallied 20 points on 15 goals and five assists to go along with five ground balls, four draw controls and one caused turnover as the Monarchs have opened the season with a 2-0 record. In a 15-11 win over Sweet Briar, Walter totaled seven goals, one assist, three ground balls and one caused turnover. In a 22-2 victory over Southern Virginia, Walter notched eight goals, four assists, four draw controls and two ground balls. Also Nominated: Mckynsey Douglas, Piedmont; Katie Burnet, Meredith.
Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Blake Forrest, Piedmont - The St. John's, Florida sophomore goalkeeper allowed four goals in 60 minutes played while stopping 12 shots in an 18-4 season-opening win over Hendrix last week in the team's only action so far this spring. Also Nominated: Alyssa Codispoti, Meredith; Emily Ewin, Methodist.
Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Robert Kjellberg, N.C. Wesleyan - The senior from Vetlanda, Sweden has earned a 3-0 record at the number-one singles position and a 1-2 mark at the top doubles spot so far this spring. All of the matches took place versus nationally-ranked teams. In singles play, Kjellberg defeated two nationally-ranked players, the second-ranked player, Matt Heinrich of Stevens, and the 20th-ranked player, Tyler Carey of Mary Washington. Also Nominated: Taylor Buchholz, Methodist; Nathan Metzger, Piedmont.
Rookies of the Week
Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week
Calvin Songster, Maryville - The freshman wing from Jonesboro, Tennessee averaged 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals per contest in a 1-1 week for the Scots versus USA South competition. In a 73-67 loss to Piedmont, Songster totaled 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal. In an 86-62 victory over Huntingdon, Songster scored 15 points, dished out four assists and collected one steal. Also Nominated: James Contreras Jr., Averett; Justin Vallejo, Piedmont; Josh Lancaster, N.C. Wesleyan.
Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week
Zarkia Mattox, Ferrum - The Rocky Mount, Virginia freshman guard averaged 13.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per contest in a 3-0 week for the Panthers versus USA South competition. In a 77-19 win over Mary Baldwin, Mattox totaled ten points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. In an 81-51 victory over Meredith, Mattox contributed 17 points, eight assists, six rebounds, six steals and one block. Finally, in a 49-34 win over N.C. Wesleyan, Mattox notched a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds to go along with two steals, one assist and one block. Also Nominated: Samm Chandler, Averett; Lauren Johnson, LaGrange; Dakota Sullens, Piedmont; Shekinah Huggins, N.C. Wesleyan; Rachel Hawn, Maryville.
Baseball Rookie of the Week
Colin Ford, Methodist - The freshman infielder from Hope Mills, North Carolina went a combined 2-for-5 (.400) with two runs scored, one run batted in and one double as the Monarchs took two out of three games from USA South foe Ferrum last week. Also Nominated: Sam Jokerst, Maryville.
Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Jared Gonzalez, Huntingdon - The Navarre, Florida freshman earned a win in his first-career start in an 11-4 victory over USA South foe LaGrange in his only appearance on the mound last week for the Hawks. Gonzalez tossed six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Also Nominated: Seth George, Piedmont; Evan Heffner, Maryville.
Softball Rookie of the Week
Laura Young, Averett - The freshman outfielder/designated player from Elon, North Carolina has gone a combined 8-for-13 (.615) with six RBI, four runs scored, two doubles, one triple, one home run and three walks as the Cougars have begun the season with a 5-0-1 record. In a two-game sweep of Bluefield College, Young was a combined 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored, one triple and one walk. In one win and one tie versus Salem, Young was a combined 2-for-5 with one double and one walk. Finally, in a two-game sweep of Guilford, Young was a combined 4-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI, one double, one home run and one walk. Also Nominated: Eran Artigues, Meredith; Alanna Anderson, Methodist; Becka Ross, Piedmont.
Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Taylor Jackson, Meredith - The Hope Mills, North Carolina freshman has appeared in four games and earned a 3-0 record with a 1.13 ERA to begin the season for the Avenging Angels. In 18.2 innings pitched, Jackson has allowed six runs, three of which have been earned, on 11 hits with nine walks and 15 strikeouts. She has earned two complete-game victories so far this spring. Also Nominated: Monica Revels, Methodist.
Lacrosse Rookie of the Week
Carlee Joseph, Meredith - The Hollywood, Maryland freshman attack tallied five points on two goals and three assists to go along with three draw controls in a 16-7 season-opening win over Converse in the team's only action so far this spring. Also Nominated: Francesca Malabad, Piedmont; Emily Brennen, Methodist.
Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Sebastian Sikh, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman from Eskilstuna, Sweden has earned a 3-0 record at number-two singles and a 1-2 mark at the top doubles spot so far this spring. All of the matches took place against nationally-ranked teams. His singles wins came against opposition from Stevens, Denison and Mary Washington. Also Nominated: Matthew Harvie, Covenant; Nathan Metzger, Piedmont.