Freeman and Gonzalez earn USA South honors for second straight week
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Huntingdon senior Jordan Freeman and freshman Jared Gonzalez were both selected as USA South Athletes of the Week on Monday. This is the second straight week the two players have been recognized.
Freeman, a third baseman from Prattville, Ala., was named Baseball Player of the Week and Gonzalez, a pitcher from Navarre, Fla., was named Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week.
Freeman batted .500 (8-for-16) with two home runs, 10 RBIs, six runs and five doubles in the Hawks' three-game sweep of Greensboro. Freeman finished with a 1.188 slugging percentage and a .471 on-base percentage. Through 12 games this season, Freeman is batting .415, leads the USA South with 18 RBIs, nine doubles and a .643 slugging percentage and is second in the conference with 22 hits and 15 runs.
Gonzalez earned the start in the Hawks' win over Greensboro in Game 3. In four innings of work, he struck out seven, scattered seven hits and allowed three earned runs. In four appearances this season, Gonzalez is 2-0 with a 4.43 ERA, 17 strikeouts and five walks in 20 1/3 innings. He is tied for fifth in the USA South in strikeouts.
Below is the complete list of USA South Athletes of the Week.
Players of the Week
Baseball Player of the Week
Jordan Freeman, Huntingdon - The senior infielder from Prattville, Alabama went a combined 8-for-16 (.500) with ten RBI, six runs scored, five doubles and two home runs as the Hawks swept a three games series from USA South foe Greensboro last week. In the first two wins, which were played as a doubleheader, Freeman was a combined 6-for-11 with nine RBI, four runs scored, four doubles and one home run. Also Nominated: Cain Sauls, LaGrange; Nick Dean, Maryville; Taylor Davis, Averett; Tyler Marcinko, Piedmont; Stephen Nalls, Methodist.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Taylor Davis, Averett - The Clayton, North Carolina senior earned a complete-game victory in a 3-1 win over USA South foe N.C. Wesleyan in his only appearance on the mound last week for the Cougars. Davis went the distance and allowed just one run on six hits with one walk and 12 strikeouts. Additionally, at the plate, Davis was a combined 3-for-8 (.375) with three RBI, two runs scored and a home run. Also Nominated: Seth Debity, Maryville; Josh Howard, Methodist; Mason Throneberry, Huntingdon.
Softball Player of the Week
Morgan Lane, Covenant - The junior first baseman from Chattanooga, Tennessee was perfect at the plate, going a combined 4-for-4 with eight RBI, five runs scored, one double, three home runs and two walks as the Scots swept a doubleheader from Agnes Scott last week. In the second game, a 13-2 win, Lane was a perfect 3-for-3 with six RBI, three runs scored, one double and two home runs. Also Nominated: Caitlyn Hogg, Maryville; Rhyan Scearce, Averett.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Mary Beth Smith, Averett - The Elon, North Carolina junior earned a victory in a 23-3 win over Southern Virginia in her only appearance on the mound last week for the Cougars. Smith tossed two perfect innings with six strikeouts to collect the win. Additionally, at the plate, Smith was a combined 5-for-7 (.714) with six RBI, four runs scored, three doubles, one walk and two stolen bases.
Lacrosse Player of the Week
Cassie Walter, Methodist - The La Plata, Maryland senior midfielder tallied 13 points on 11 goals and two assists to go along with eight draw controls and one ground ball as the Monarchs posted a 2-0 record last week. All of her statistics came in a 19-5 victory over St. Andrews as the 11 goals set a new single-game Methodist record. In a 10-9 win over St. Vincent, Walter did not play due to the need to attend a family matter. Also Nominated: Maggie McDaniel, Piedmont; Jen Price, Huntingdon.
Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Blake Forrest, Piedmont - The St. John's, Florida sophomore goalkeeper allowed six goals in 120 minutes played while stopping five shots in a 2-0 week for the Lions. In a 19-6 win over Alma, Forrest stopped four shots. In a 20-0 win over Hanover, Forrest collected her first-career shutout as she stopped the one shot she faced. Also Nominated: Emily Ewin, Methodist.
Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Nicolas Quevedo, Averett - The sophomore from Quito, Ecuador earned a win at the number-two singles position over Trevor Cox from Guilford in his only singles action of the week. In doubles-play, Quevedo and his partner, Carlos Lora, dropped a match to opposition from Guilford at the top-spot.
Rookies of the Week
Baseball Rookie of the Week
Sam Jokerst, Maryville - The freshman outfielder from Atlanta, Georgia went a combined 4-for-13 (.308) with five RBI, four runs scored, one double, one home run and two walks in a 3-1 week for the Scots versus USA South competition. In a 10-8 win over Greensboro, Jokerst was 1-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. In taking two out of three games versus LaGrange, Jokerst was a combined 3-for-9 with three RBI, three runs scored, one double, one home run and two walks. Also Nominated: Kyle Vidano, Averett.
Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Jared Gonzalez, Huntingdon - The Navarre, Florida freshman received a no-decision in a 10-5 victory over USA South foe Greensboro in his only appearance on the mound last week for the Hawks. Gonzalez started the game and tossed four innings, allowing four runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits with zero walks and seven strikeouts.
Softball Rookie of the Week
Olivia Cooper, Averett - The freshman outfielder from Youngsville, North Carolina went a combined 2-for-3 (.667) with two runs scored, one run batted in, one double and two stolen bases in a doubleheader sweep of Southern Virginia last week. Also Nominated: Lindsey Selph, Huntingdon.
Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Joni Johnson, Covenant - The Forest Hill, Louisiana freshman posted one win and one save in a doubleheader sweep of Agnes Scott in her only two appearances last week for the Scots. In five innings pitched, Johnson allowed no runs on one hit with zero walks and three strikeouts. In a game-one 4-3 win, Johnson came on in relief to toss the final two innings, allowing just one hit. In the second game, a 13-2 victory, Johnson got the start and pitched a perfect first three innings.
Lacrosse Rookie of the Week
Francesca Malabad, Piedmont - The Ocoee, Florida freshman defender tallied seven points on five goals and two assists to go along with seven ground balls, seven caused turnovers, and three draw controls in a 2-0 week for the Lions. In a 19-6 victory over Alma, Malabad scored twice with three ground balls, two caused turnovers and one draw control. In a 20-0 win over Hanover, Malabad tallied three goals and two assists to go along with five caused turnovers, four ground balls and two draw controls. Also Nominated: Maddi Ronelli, Methodist.
Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Carlos Lora, Averett - The freshman from Gurabo, Puerto Rico, earned a win at the number-four singles position over Mesa Martorell from Guilford in his only singles action of the week. In doubles-play, Lora and his partner, Nicolas Quevedo, dropped a match to opposition from Guilford at the top-spot.