FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Elon's Mike Melillo (Courtesy of Southern Conference)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – College of Charleston sophomore third baseman Cole Rakar and Elon junior catcher Mike Melillo have been named the Southern Conference’s Baseball Co-Players of the Week for all games from March 23-29. The Citadel’s Drew Mahaffey has been named the league’s Pitcher of the Week.
Rakar finished with a .529 batting average (9-of-17) as the Cougars went 2-2 last week. He belted three home runs in Furman’s 18-4 victory over Furman on Saturday, becoming just the fourth player in school history to record three homers in a single game. Rakar added an additional home run Sunday and recorded a .600 on-base percentage. He scored eight runs and added a stole base last week.
Melillo hit .474 (9-of-19) and recorded at least one hit in every game this week as the Phoenix went 2-3, including a 2-1 series win on the road at Georgia Southern. He added nine RBI and finished the week with two triples, three home runs, two stolen bases and scored nine runs last week.
Mahaffey made three appearances last week in victories over Air Force. The sophomore left-handed reliever pitched 3.2 innings and recorded three saves. He held the Falcons scoreless, did not issue a walk and struck out nine of the 13 batters he faced. He gave up just two hits and retired 11 batters for the week.
The SoCon’s weekly awards are voted on by the league’s baseball sports information directors.
Other hitters earning consideration for the award were Appalachian State’s Isaac Harrow, The Citadel’s Richard Jones, Davidson’s Pat Brady, Samford’s David Schulze and Western Carolina’s Brent Greer.
Other pitchers nominated were Appalachian State’s Aubrey Edens, Elon’s Jordan Darnell, Samford’s Michael Jarry and Western Carolina’s Garrett Ozar.
2009 SoCon Baseball Players of the Week
Feb. 23 Joash Brodin, College of Charleston
March 2 Justin Hilt, Elon
March 9 Griffin Benedict, Georgia Southern
March 16 Richard Jones, The Citadel
March 23 Stephen Notaro, Western Carolina
March 30 Mike Melillo, Elon and Cole Rakar, College of Charleston
2009 SoCon Baseball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 23 Zach Garrett, The Citadel
March 2 Daniel Ottone, Western Carolina
March 9 David Peterson, College of Charleston
March 16 Jesse Simpson, College of Charleston
March 23 Chris Masters, Western Carolina
March 30 Drew Mahaffey, The Citadel
