NECBL New England Collegiate Baseball League

Starcun (Valley), Schank (Plymouth) Earn NECBL Week 7 Awards

July 20, 2015 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) News Release


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - While the spotlight on the week was certainly aimed squarely at the upcoming All-Star Game, that still did not detract from some noteworthy performances in a key six-day stretch of the season, as Valley infielder Chris Starcun (AIC) and Plymouth left-hander Jeff Schank (Butler) have been named the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for their efforts.

The recognition is the first for Valley this season, as Starcun turned in a fine four-day stretch at the plate and in the field that saw him lead the NECBL in several offensive categories while helping the Blue Sox post three wins in five tries to roar within two games of first place. The Pilgrims, meanwhile, won both of Schank's starts to get back in the playoff picture in the south, as the Butler southpaw became the second Pilgrim to earn a weekly award this summer.

Starcun finished the week with nine hits - ranked second in the league - in only four games, and in that span he batted a league-high .750 (9-for-12). He tied for the league lead with two home runs while driving in four, and he also added three doubles and two runs scored. In 17 games this summer, Starcun owns a .333/.422/.593 slash line and also raised his OPS to 1.015 after last week's efforts.

Schank was the only two-game winner last week. In a pair of starts, he posted a 1.54 ERA while striking out 10 and issuing only three walks. He led the league with 11-2/3 innings pitched and finished with a 0.94 WHIP. He tossed five scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a 2-0 victory against Newport on July 13 before going 6-2/3 innings with four strikeouts and a walk to notch his second win of the week. He now owns a 2.73 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 11 walks over 29-2/3 innings this summer.

The NECBL congratulates both on their accomplishments.

Weekly Honor Roll

Aaron Casper (Sanford/Canisius) - Struck out seven in only four innings across two separate scoreless relief outings. Also walked none and worked around three hits in that span.

Sam Delaplane (Vermont/Eastern Michigan) - One of the league's top relievers, totaled eight strikeouts over 4-2/3 scoreless innings. Allowed only two hits and a walk, picked up a win in one of those outings, and got the save in the other.

Tony Dibrell (Ocean State/Kennesaw State) - Fanned seven in six scoreless innings with three hits yielded in his only start last week.

Daniel Hoy (Mystic/Princeton) - Led the league with nine RBIs, six of which came in one game thanks to a grand slam, and finished with two total homers on the week.

Lucas Luopa (Keene/Eckerd) - Racked up a league-high 12 hits over five games, finishing 12-for-23 (.522) with two doubles, two runs and a double.

Luke Olson (Plymouth/George Washington) - Had a say in all four Plymouth wins last week; was perfect in five relief outings, during which he did not surrender a hit or a walk while striking out two and totaling four saves.

Ben Ruta (Mystic/Wagner) - Batted over .400 on the week, finishing 9-for-22 with seven runs, a double, a homer, five RBIs and going 4-for-5 on the bases.

Nick Ruppert (Vermont/Dartmouth) - Ranked third in the league in batting average (.533) while finishing with eight hits in 15 at-bats; also scored six runs with a double and five RBIs.

Brandyn Sittinger (Laconia/Ashland) - Struck out six while working around four hits and three walks in a no decision.

Jayson Sullivan (New Bedford/Sacred Heart) - Drove in five runs while contributing nine hits in 17 at-bats (.529); also tallied three doubles, a triple, three runs scored and two stolen bases.

2015 Player/Pitcher of the Week Archives

Week 6: Burdeaux (Ocean State)/Mertz (Newport)

Week 5: Robinson (Ocean State)/Leland (Vermont)

Week 4: Hanley (Laconia)/Willeman (Keene)

Week 3: Alvarez (Plymouth) /Edwards (North Adams)

Week 2: Roulis (Vermont)/Mertz (Newport)

Week 1: Critelli (New Bedford)/Viehoff (Laconia)



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 20, 2015


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