SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Western Carolina second baseman Ross Heffley has been named the Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Week while Samford right-handed pitcher Josh Martin has been selected as the league's Pitcher of the Week for all games from March 5-11.
Heffley led the Catamounts to a 4-1 record on the week with a .611 batting average (11-of-18). The senior scored a team-high nine runs, including four scores to go along with four hits in the Catamounts' 12-4 win over Duke on Tuesday. The Snellville, Ga., native recorded an impressive .708 on-base percentage on the week, recording 11 hits and drawing six walks, while amassing a .722 slugging percentage. Heffley, who is the Division I active career leader in hits with 296, was consistent throughout the week, recording multiple hits in 4-of-5 outings.
Martin led Samford to wins in both of his starts last week, recording a 0.64 ERA average while going 2-0 against Penn State and UNCG. The senior from Enterprise, Ala., pitched seven innings, giving up two unearned runs and striking out 10 batters in a win over Penn State on Monday. Against UNCG on Sunday, Martin tossed another seven innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out four batters. For the week, Martin worked 14 innings, while surrendering one earned run. He fanned 14 batters and did not issue a walk.
Other hitters receiving consideration were Daniel Kassouf (Appalachian State), Marty Gantt (College of Charleston), Justin Mackert (The Citadel), Calvin Sigelbaum (Davidson), Ryan Kinsella (Elon), Eric Phillips (Georgia Southern), Lloyd Enzor (UNCG), Brandon Miller (Samford) and Mac Doyle (Wofford).
Other top performers among pitchers were Tyler Moore (Appaalchian State), Christian Powell (College of Charleston), Austin Pritcher (The Citadel), Danny Mooney (Davidson), Dylan Clark (Elon), Tyler Wood (Furman), Chris Beck (Georgia Southern), Dominique Vattuone (UNCG), Preston Hatcher (Western Carolina) and Jesse Morris (Wofford).
2012 SoCon Baseball Players of the Week
Feb. 20 Saxon Butler, Samford
Feb. 27 Thomas Troelstrup, UNCG
March 5 Will Owens, Furman
March 12 Ross Heffley, Western Carolina
2012 SoCon Baseball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 20 Eric Eck, Wofford
Feb. 27 Ryan Arrowood, Appalachian State
March 5 Ryan West, College of Charleston
March 12 Josh Martin, Samford