Three Hawks recognized as USA South Athletes of the Week
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Two baseball players and a men's tennis player represent Huntingdon this week as USA South Athletes of the Week.
Senior Gavin Free was named the USA South Baseball Pitcher of the Week, freshman third baseman Will Pharis was named the Baseball Rookie of the Week and freshman Sebastian Riveros Florez was named the Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week.
Free was dominant on the mound in the third game of the Hawks' sweep of preseason conference No. 1 Covenant. In an 11-1 win over the Scots, Free recorded 14 strikeouts, allowed seven hits and one unearned run in nine innings. Covenant had multiple hits in an inning just once during the game and Free struck out multiple batters in five innings, including the final three outs of the game.
Pharis batted .462 (6-for-13) with four RBIs and three runs in four games last week. He was 5-for-11 with his four RBIs and three runs coming in the series sweep of Covenant.
Florez won in singles and doubles in his only match of the week. He picked up a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles against Tuskegee and teamed with Meyer Schwartzberg for an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles against the Golden Tigers.
The complete list of USA South Athletes of the Week is listed below.
Baseball Player of the Week
Matt Reynolds, Ferrum - The junior second baseman from Star, North Carolina went a combined 5-for-10 (.500) with four RBI, three runs scored, one double and one walk last week as the Panthers posted a 3-0 record. In a 4-2 win over Bridgewater, Reynolds was 1-for-4 with one run scored. In a doubleheader sweep of USA South foe LaGrange, Reynolds was a combined 4-for-6 with four RBI, two runs scored, one double and one walk. Also Nominated: Evan Gresham, Piedmont; Alex Rodriguez, Methodist; Andrew Davies, Averett; Will Pharis, Huntingdon.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Gavin Free, Huntingdon - The Opp, Alabama senior earned a complete-game win in his only appearance on the mound last week, an 11-1 victory over USA South foe Covenant. Free allowed just one unearned run on seven hits with one walk and 14 strikeouts. Also Nominated: Chris Goershel, Piedmont; Travis Johnson, Methodist; Timothy Coston, Averett; Jake Perkins, Ferrum.
Softball Player of the Week
Maria Seay, N.C. Wesleyan - The senior infielder from Mineral, Virginia went a combined 7-for-9 (.778) with five RBI and one double as the Bishops posted a 2-2 record last week. In two losses at Guilford, Seay was a combined 2-for-4 with two RBI. In a doubleheader sweep of USA South foe Maryville, Seay was a perfect 5-for-5 with one double and three RBI. Also Nominated: Sarah Stapleton, Methodist; Chloe Brzycki, Ferrum; Olivia Duncan, Piedmont;Ashley Johnson, Huntingdon.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Jordin Ellingson, Piedmont - The Cornelia, Georgia sophomore appeared in two games last week versus USA South competition and earned two wins by tossing a total of 11.0 innings, allowing one earned run on nine hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts. In a 10-0, five-inning, win over Methodist, Ellingson tossed four scoreless innings and allowed two hits with three strikeouts. In a 5-2 win over Maryville, Ellingson went the distance and allowed one earned run on seven hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Also Nominated: Aiyana Lew, Ferrum; Aaryn Deal, William Peace; Brooke Meadows, Huntingdon.
Lacrosse Player of the Week
Courtney Hamm, Ferrum - The Raleigh, North Carolina junior midfielder tallied a game-high five goals and added one assist, two caused turnovers and one groundball as the Panthers defeated USA South foe LaGrange, 25-4, in the team's only action last week. Also Nominated: Megan Mcdowell, Piedmont; Cassie Walter, Methodist; Jen Price, Huntingdon.
Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Carly Haraka, Piedmont - The Cumming, Georgia sophomore goalkeeper posted a 2.46 goals against average while playing 73 minutes in goal and stopping five shots in a 2-0 week for the Lions. In a 16-4 win over USA South foe Methodist, Haraka played the first 30 minutes and allowed one goal while stopping four shots. In a 21-5 win over Aurora, Haraka played the first 43 minutes and allowed two goals while making one save. Also Nominated: Alexis McDonald, Huntingdon.
Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Mikhail Konnov, N.C. Wesleyan - The sophomore from Yaroslavl, Russia earned a win at the number-one singles and doubles positions over opponents from USA South foe Maryville in the team's lone match last week. Konnov collected a 6-0, 6-0 singles win and an 8-1 doubles victory with assistance from his teammate, Peter Hviid. Also Nominated: Teal Howard, Methodist; Bobby Foroughian, Huntingdon.
Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Laura Baker, Methodist - The senior from Lincolnton, North Carolina earned a 3-1 record at both the number-one singles and doubles spots last week for the Monarchs. Baker earned her singles victories over opponents from Schreiner, Mary Hardin-Baylor and USA South foe Piedmont. Along with teammate Isabella Graf, Baker collected wins over opponents from Schreiner, Mary Hardin-Baylor and USA South foe Piedmont. Also Nominated: Sarah Carter, Covenant; Hannah Still, Huntingdon.
Rookies of the Week
Baseball Rookie of the Week
Will Pharis, Huntingdon -The freshman infielder from Trussville, Alabama went a combined 6-for-13 (.462) with four RBI, three runs scored, two doubles, one walk and one stolen base last week as the Hawks posted a 3-1 record. In a 13-0 loss to Birmingham Southern, Pharis was 1-for-2 with one walk. In a three-game sweep of USA South foe Covenant, Pharis was a combined 5-for-11 with four RBI, three runs scored, two doubles and one stolen base. Also Nominated: Pete Wildeboer, Methodist; Trey Wall, Averett.
Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Spencer Ramsey, N.C. Wesleyan - The Rocky Mount, North Carolina freshman earned a complete-game, seven-inning, shutout win in his only appearance on the mound for the Bishops last week, a 5-0 victory over Mitchell. Ramsey went the distance and allowed just one hit with five walks and four strikeouts. Also Nominated: Darin Salter, Methodist.
Softball Rookie of the Week
Allison Vaughn, Piedmont - The freshman infielder from Ringgold, Georgia went a combined 9-for-15 (.600) with five runs scored, three RBI, one double, one triple, one home run and one walk the Lions posted a 4-0 record last week versus USA South competition. In a doubleheader sweep of Methodist, Vaughn was a combined 4-for-6 with two runs scored, two RBI, one double and one triple. In a doubleheader sweep of Maryville, Vaughn was a combined 5-for-9 with three runs scored, one run batted in, one double and one home run. Also Nominated: Allyson Aycock, Methodist; Amanda Roberts, Ferrum; Jennibeth Burge, William Peace.
Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Amanda Roberts, Ferrum - The Lawrenceville, Georgia freshman appeared in three games last week and earned a 3-0 record by tossing a total of 18.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on 14 hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts. In a 4-1 win over Mount Union, Roberts went the distance and allowed one run on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. In a 13-1, five-inning, win over Gwynedd-Mercy, Roberts tossed four innings and allowed one run on two hits with five strikeouts. Finally, in a 5-2 victory over USA South foe LaGrange, Roberts pitched the full seven innings and allowed one unearned run on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Also Nominated: Sarah Walker, Piedmont.
Lacrosse Rookie of the Week
Jenine Brideau, Piedmont - The Fayetteville, Georgia freshman defender tallied six points on four goals and two assists with two draw controls as the Lions earned a 2-0 record last week. In a 16-4 win over USA South foe Methodist, Brideau tallied two goals with one assist and one draw control. In a 21-5 win over Aurora, Brideau scored twice with an assist and a draw control. Also Nominated: Bianca Terenzi, Methodist; Sam Baker, Huntingdon.
Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Sebastian Riveros Florez, Huntingdon - The freshman from Bogota, Colombia earned a win at the number-two singles and doubles positions over opponents from Tuskegee in the team's lone match last week. Florez collected a 6-2, 6-0 singles win and an 8-2 doubles victory with assistance from his teammate, Meyer Schwartzberg. Also Nominated: Elias Kerem, N.C. Wesleyan.
Women's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Abigail Randolph, Methodist - The freshman from Richmond, Virginia earned a 2-1 record at the number-three singles and a 4-0 record at the number-two doubles spot last week for the Monarchs. Randolph earned singles wins over opponents from Texas Lutheran and USA South foe Piedmont. In doubles action, Randolph and teammate Emily Talley defeated opponents from Texas Lutheran, Schreiner, Mary Harden-Baylor and USA South foe Piedmont. Also Nominated: Natalia Lopez, NC Wesleyan; Daniela Lozano, Huntingdon.