Huntingdon’s Watson named USA South Baseball Pitcher of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Huntingdon junior Zack Watson was recognized as one of the USA South Athletes of the Week on Monday.

Watson was named the conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week for his performance against Piedmont on Sunday. A native of Century, Fla., Watson pitched a complete-game shutout against the Lions.

Watson allowed four hits and four walks and struck out two in the win. The game was shortened to seven innings by the USA South's 12-run rule.

Watson is 2-2 this season with a 2.91 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 34 innings.

Below is the complete list of USA South Athletes of the Week.

Players of the Week 

Baseball Player of the Week
Ray Lanners, Methodist - The junior catcher from St. Petersburg, Florida went a combined 7-for-11 (.636) with four RBI, two runs scored, one double and three walks as the Monarchs posted a 3-0 record last week. In a 16-4 win over Emory & Henry, Lanners was 3-for-4 with three RBI, one run scored and two walks. In a doubleheader sweep of USA South foe William Peace, Lanners was a combined 4-for-7 with one run batted in, one run scored and one walk. Also Nominated: Brandon Soden, Greensboro; Zack Blonder, Maryville; Nic Futrell, Averett; Lane Deaver, Ferrum; Patrick Kucera, Huntingdon.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Zack Watson, Huntingdon - The Century, Florida junior collected a complete-game shutout victory in a 12-0, seven-inning, win over USA South leader Piedmont in his only appearance on the mound last week for the Hawks. Watson allowed just four hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Also Nominated: Travis Johnson, Methodist; Cody York, Greensboro; Timothy Coston, Averett; Jake Perkins, Ferrum.

Softball Player of the Week
Taylor Dix, Averett - The junior infielder from Danville, Virginia went a combined 12-for-17 (.706) with nine runs scored, six RBI, six doubles, four walks and one stolen base as the Cougars posted a 6-0 record last week. In a doubleheader sweep of USA South foe Methodist, Dix was a combined 5-for-7 with four RBI, two runs scored, two doubles and one walk. In a doubleheader sweep of USA South rival Greensboro, Dix was a combined 4-for-5 with five runs scored, one run batted in, three doubles and one walk. Finally, in a doubleheader sweep of Roanoke, Dix was a combined 3-for-5 with two runs scored, one run batted in, one double, two walks and one stolen base. Also Nominated: Brandi Stamey, William Peace; Caitlyn Hogg, Maryville; Abby Smith, Piedmont; Aiyana Lew, Ferrum; Danielle Newbern, LaGrange; Amanda White, Meredith; Daisha Henderson, Huntingdon.

Softball Pitcher of the Week
Mary Beth Smith, Averett - The Elon, North Carolina junior appeared in four games last week, three starts, and posted a 3-0 record with a 0.67 ERA by tossing 21.0 innings, allowing three runs, two of which were earned, on 13 hits with 11 walks and 22 strikeouts. Of her three victories, two came against USA South competition. Versus USA South opponents, Methodist and Greensboro, Smith allowed two runs, one of which was earned, with 12 strikeouts in two complete-game performances. Additionally, at the plate, Smith was a combined 5-for-16 (.313) with three runs scored and two RBI. Also Nominated: Emily Taylor, Ferrum.

Lacrosse Player of the Week
Kristin Norris, Greensboro - The Bushwood, Maryland junior midfielder tallied 26 points on 21 goals and five assists to go along with 15 draw controls, seven ground balls and six caused turnovers as the Pride posted a 3-0 record last week. In a 24-0 win over Wilmington (OH), Norris scored nine times with six caused turnovers, four ground balls and four draw controls. In a 23-4 victory at USA South foe LaGrange, Norris notched seven goals with four assists, six draw controls and two ground balls. Finally, in a 22-11 win at USA South rival Huntingdon, Norris totaled five goals, one assist, five draw controls and one ground ball. Also Nominated: Danielle Lee, Meredith; Shannon Brown, Ferrum; Maggie McDaniel, Piedmont; Cassie Walter, Methodist.

Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Ashlynn Parks, Greensboro - The Odenton, Maryland junior midfielder totaled 20 ground balls, 18 draw controls and 12 caused turnovers to go along with 13 points on nine goals and four assists in a 3-0 week for the Pride. In a 24-0 win over Wilmington (OH), Parks totaled eight caused turnovers, eight draw controls and seven ground balls to go along with two goals and three assists. In a 23-4 victory at USA South foe LaGrange, Parks notched six ground balls, four draw controls and two caused turnovers with three goals and one assist. Finally, in a 22-11 win at USA South rival Huntingdon, Parks collected seven ground balls, grabbed six draw controls, caused two turnovers and scored four goals. Also Nominated: Graceanne Gershner, Ferrum; Blake Forrest, Piedmont.

Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Robert Kjellberg, N.C. Wesleyan - The senior from Vetlanda, Sweden earned a win at the number-one singles and doubles positions versus USA South foe Greensboro in his only action last week for the Bishops. He did not surrender a set in each of his matches. In doubles, he teamed with Sebastian Sikh to collect the victory. Also Nominated: Dillon Sullivan, Methodist; Chris Cox, Covenant.

Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Isabella Graf, Methodist - The junior from Harrington Park, New Jersey earned a 2-0 record at the number-one singles position and a 3-0 doubles record at the top-doubles spot last week for the Monarchs. In singles action, Graf earned wins over opposition from Berry and USA South foe Piedmont. In doubles play, Graf teamed with Sam Munze to grab wins over Illinois Wesleyan, Berry and Piedmont. Also Nominated: Riley Smith, Averett; Natalia Lopez, N.C. Wesleyan; Gretchen Rowe, Covenant; Morgan McDonald, LaGrange; Catherine Bryant, Meredith; Hannah Still, Huntingdon.

Rookies of the Week

Baseball Rookie of the Week
Nathan Reynolds, Ferrum - The freshman first baseman from Star, North Carolina went a combined 5-for-10 (.500) with six RBI, one run scored, one double and one walk in a 3-1 week for the Panthers. In a 7-6, ten-inning, win over Lynchburg, Reynolds was 2-for-5 with one run batted in. In taking two out of three games over USA South foe Maryville, Reynolds was a combined 3-for-5 with five RBI, one run scored, one double and one walk. Also Nominated: Alex Dockery, Methodist; Gwynn Thompson, Greensboro; Kyle Vidano, Averett; Dakota Beane, Huntingdon.

Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Evan Heffner, Maryville - The Ponte Vedra, Florida freshman appeared in two games, one start, last week and posted a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA in 10.2 innings pitched for the Scots. In a 4-0, seven-inning, win over Berry, Heffner went the distance and earned the shutout victory by allowing just two hits with three walks and four strikeouts. In an 11-5 win over USA South foe Ferrum, Heffner came on in relief to pitch three and two-thirds innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Also Nominated: Blake Bailey, Huntingdon.

Softball Rookie of the Week
Becka Ross, Piedmont - The freshman infielder from Walnut Groove, Georgia went a combined 5-for-11 (.455) with five RBI, three runs scored, two doubles, four walks and three stolen bases 2-2 week for the Lions versus USA South competition. In two losses to William Peace, Ross was a combined 3-for-6 with three RBI, one run scored and two stolen bases. In a doubleheader sweep of Methodist, Ross was a combined 2-for-5 with two RBI, two runs scored, two walks and one stolen base. Also Nominated: Laura Young, Averett; Eran Artigues, Meredith.

Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Courtney Rudd, Ferrum - The Burlington, North Carolina freshman posted a 1-0 record in three appearances, one start, last week for the Panthers. In 9.1 innings pitched, Rudd did not allow a run on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts. In her only start, Rudd posted a complete-game shutout victory in a 3-0 win over USA South foe LaGrange. Also Nominated: Taylor Jackson, Meredith; Katelyn McLamb, William Peace.

Lacrosse Rookie of the Week
Catie Vance, Ferrum - The Roanoke, Virginia freshman attacker tallied 17 points on five goals and 12 assists to go along with six ground balls and one draw control in a 3-0 week of the Panthers. In a 19-7 win over Randolph, Vance notched one goal and three assists. In a 19-18 win over USA South foe Huntingdon, Vance totaled one goal, two assists and three ground balls. In a 21-5 victory over USA South rival LaGrange, Vance scored three times, dished out seven assists, grabbed three ground balls and collected one draw control. Also Nominated: Natalie Ritchey, Greensboro; Carlee Joseph, Meredith; Maddi Ronelli, Methodist.

Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
R.J. Clement, Methodist - The freshman from Sugar Hill, Georgia earned a 2-0 record at the number-one singles position and two doubles wins last week for the Monarchs. His two singles victories came versus USA South competition against opponents from Averett and Piedmont. In doubles, he first partnered with Taylor Buchholz at the number-one position to earn a win over Averett then he teamed with Teal Howard at the number-two position to collect a victory over Piedmont. Also Nominated: James Wright, Averett; Sebastian Sikh, N.C. Wesleyan; Chris Cox, Covenant.

Women's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Macy Milford, LaGrange - The freshman from Martin, Georgia earned a 2-0 record at both the number-two singles position and the top doubles spot last week for the Panthers. Her two singles victories came versus USA South foes Mary Baldwin and Ferrum. In doubles action, Milford teamed with Denney Meigs to collect the wins. Also Nominated: Vatrice Williams, Methodist; Hannah Mattson, Averett; Rachel Hui, N.C. Wesleyan; Durden Smith, Piedmont; Annie DeLuca, Covenant; Kaitlin Smit, LaGrange; Ran Zhang, Meredith; Sandy Mayson, Huntingdon.