NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – A monster week at the plate and a dominant start on the mound paved the way for Ocean State catcher Chuckie Robinson (Southern Mississippi) and Vermont right-hander Sean Leland (Louisville) being named the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.
Robinson was an absolute monster in four games for the Waves last week, and his efforts reflected those of his team’s; the Waves all four of their games last week and 9-of-10 overall to help the team move to within a game of the South Division lead. Leland, meanwhile, enjoyed his best start of the summer to key Vermont to a divisional win at North Adams as part of a four-win week that saw the Mountaineers within a half-game of first place in the North by week’s end.
A right-handed hitter and Damville, Illinois, native, Robinson finished the week 9-for-14 at the plate, good for a league-high .643 batting average in four games. His five runs were one off the league lead, but he made up for it in just about every other category, ranking first in home runs (4) and RBIs (9) while striking out only once. His OPS for the week was a staggering 2.331 and he posted a downright ridiculous .643 / .688 / 1.643 slash line.
On the year, Robinson ranks second in the NECBL in home runs (6) and in 17 games has driven in 14 runs with 19 hits and four doubles; he also owns a .317 batting average this summer while scoring 10 runs.
On the bump, Leland edged out several impressive pitching performances across the league last week, but his was perhaps the most effective over the longest span of the competition he was up against. He tossed seven scoreless innings while scattering three hits and walking just one while striking out a season-high eight batters in a 4-0 road win at North Adams on Friday. He faced 25 batters and was brilliant, lowering his ERA to 2.41 and WHIP to 1.020 in the process.
That performance led to the Orland Park, Illinois, native’s first win of the summer; in 18-2/3 innings, his control has certainly been his best quality. The righty has struck out 18 while walking only two.
Week 5 Honor Roll
Cody Acker (Danbury/VCU) – Ranked second in the league with a .571 batting average, finishing 8-for-14 at the plate with three runs and three doubles while doing 4-for-5 in stolen bases.
Anthony Brocato (Keene/St. John’s) – Smashed three home runs while driving in seven as part of a six-hit week; also scored three runs and added a double.
Shea Donlin (Newport/Washington State) – Tallied up nine hits in 20 at-bats while scoring four runs and driving in four more.
James Karinchak (Newport/Bryant) – Tossed a dominant, scoreless five innings in only start, earning the win with nine strikeouts, no walks and two hits. Posted a WHIP of 0.40.
Jake Lumley (Valley/Canisius) – Finished 8-for-17 (.471) with a run, a triple and a home run while driving in four over that span.
Luke Olson (Plymouth/George Washington) – Was used often last week, leading the league with four appearances and answered the call each time, tossing 5-2/3 scoreless innings in total with eight strikeouts and two hits. Earned a win while his WHIP of 0.35 was among the best last week.
Keven Pimentel (Plymouth/U. Miami) – Ranked second in the league with nine strikeouts as part of a brilliant start that saw him go eight innings with only four hits allowed in a no decision.
Gabriel Rodriguez (New Bedford/Eastern Florida State) – In three appearances, allowed only one earned run over 50-2/3 innings with six strikeouts, two walks, and picked up a league-high two wins. Also posted a stellar 0.35 WHIP.
Brent Rooker (Plymouth/Mississippi State) – Led the league with 11 hits and three doubles while adding four runs scored and four RBIs.
Timothy Viehoff (Laconia/SNHU) – Fanned six, walked three and scattered two hits in a scoreless seven innings of work while lowering ERA to 0.28 (2nd/NECBL) and raising his strikeout and win total to a league-leading 36 and four, respectively.
