USA South Athletes of the Week - March 12, 2012

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)

Baseball Player of the Week
James Carter, Averett - The senior first baseman from Chesapeake, Virginia went 15-for-33 (.455) with 12 RBI, two runs scored, four doubles and three walks as the Cougars posted a 4-4 record last week. In two wins over Penn St.-Berks, Carter was a combined 4-for-11 with five RBI and two doubles. In a 10-6 loss to Eastern, Carter was 1-for-2 with two RBI and two walks. In a 4-3 win over Wilkes, Carter was 1-for-3 with one run batted in. In two losses to Catholic, Carter was a combined 4-for-9 with four RBI, one run scored and two doubles. Finally in a two-game split with USA South foe Greensboro, Carter was a combined 5-for-8 with one run scored and one walk. Also Nominated: Brandon Thigpen, Methodist; Jake Pendergraft, Shenandoah; Wes Walker, Ferrum; Grant Kelley, Greensboro; Tyler Clark, N.C. Wesleyan.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Chris Perry, Methodist - The Cary, North Carolina junior tossed a complete-game shutout against USA South foe and third-ranked Christopher Newport in his only appearance for the Monarchs last week. Perry went all nine innings, allowing just four his and three walks with 13 strikeouts as Methodist earned a 3-0 win. Also Nominated: Chris Moyer, Averett; Greg Goldsmith, Christopher Newport; Jacob Cadle, Greensboro; Kaleb Wessell, N.C. Wesleyan; Tyler Easterly, Ferrum; Vince Claudio, Shenandoah.

Softball Player of the Week
Jennifer Falin, Christopher Newport - The senior infielder from Williamsburg, Virginia went 9-for-19 (.474) with 12 RBI, six runs scored, three doubles, three home runs and six walks as the Captains posted a 6-0 record last week. In a doubleheader sweep of seventh-ranked Salisbury, Falin was a combined 3-for-7 with four RBI, two runs scored, one walk and a game-winning home run. In an 8-4 win over Arcadia, Falin was 1-for-3 with one double, two RBI and one walk. In an 11-0 victory over Frostburg State, Falin was 1-for-2 with two walks and one run batted in. In a 23-0 win over Baruch, Falin was 3-for-4 with three RBI, three runs scored, two doubles, one home run and one walk. Finally, in a 10-2 victory over Susquehanna, Falin was 1-for-3 with two RBI, one run scored and one walk. Also Nominated: Emily Cooke, Meredith; Jenna Rudder, Averett; Hannah Shumaker, Ferrum; Jordan Wolford, Shenandoah; Marcy McKee, Methodist; Carly Creef, N.C. Wesleyan.

Softball Pitcher of the Week
Krista Townsend, Christopher Newport - The Midlothian, Virginia junior earned a victories in both of her appearances last week for the Captains. Townsend totaled 12 innings pitched and allowed three runs on ten hits with three walks and 12 strikeouts. In a 5-1 victory over seventh-ranked Salisbury, Townsend collected the win by going six innings and allowing one run on four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. In a 10-2 win over Susquehanna, Townsend earned the victory by tossing a complete-game and allowing two runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Also Nominated: Kaitlyn Culler, Ferrum; Jordan Wolford, Shenandoah; Leanna Fann, N.C. Wesleyan; Amanda Beirne, Meredith.

Lacrosse Player of the Week
Jasmine Stephens, Methodist - The Clemmons, North Carolina senior midfielder tallied 17 points on 17 goals in a 3-0 week for the Monarchs. Stephens also accumulated 25 draw controls, ten groundballs and eight caused turnovers. In a 17-16 win over Randolph, Stephens scored eight goals to go along with 11 draw controls, five groundballs and one caused turnover. In a 12-9 victory over USA South foe LaGrange, Stephens notched six scores with seven draw controls, seven caused turnovers and five groundballs. Finally, in a 14-12 win over USA South rival Agnes Scott, Stephens scored three goals and collected seven draw controls. Also Nominated: Brittany Ziobro, Greensboro; Brooke Hewartson, Ferrum; Jessica Singer, Christopher Newport; Samantha Sisson, Shenandoah.

Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Becca Geist, Christopher Newport - The Fairfax, Virginia midfielder helped the Captains to a 2-0 record last week by accumulating a co-team high three caused turnovers. She also totaled four goals scored, five groundballs and three draw controls last week. In an 11-8 win over Virginia Wesleyan, Geist scored one goal and added three groundballs, one draw control and one caused turnover. In a 19-9 victory over USA South rival Greensboro, Geist scored three goals while collecting two groundballs, two draw controls and two caused turnovers. Also Nominated: Ashley Cross, Shenandoah.

Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Eric Shulman, Christopher Newport - The senior from Glen Allen, Virginia earned a 3-1 record at the number-one singles position last week for the Captains with two of the victories coming again nationally-ranked opponents. His lone loss came against the fourth-ranked player in the nation. Shulman earned wins over opponents from Kenyon, Cal Lutheran and Occidental. He also collected a doubles victory as he teamed with Matt King to defeat opponents from Occidental. Also Nominated: David Lembke, Averett; Lawrence Salmon, Methodist; Robert Kjellberg, N.C. Wesleyan.

Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Puja Patel, Meredith - The sophomore from Snowhill, North Carolina earned a 3-1 record at both the number-one singles and doubles positions last week for the Avenging Angels. She earned straight-set singles wins over opponents from Haverford, Berry and Bryn Mawr. Patel teamed with Caroline Hunt to collect the doubles victories. Also Nominated: Dana Powell, Methodist; Kaitlin Swann, Ferrum; Sarah Stafford, Christopher Newport.

Rookies of the Week

Baseball Rookie of the Week
Preston Grissom, Christopher Newport - The freshman outfielder from Chesapeake, Virginia went 6-for-12 (.500) with three runs scored, one run batted in, three walks, two triples and one stolen base as the Captains posted a 4-1 record last week. In a 4-3 win over Catholic, Grissom was 1-for-1 with one run scored. In a 3-1 win over Penn St.-Berks, Grissom was 1-for-1. In an 8-7 victory over Penn St.-Harrisburg, Grissom was 1-for-4 with one run scored and one triple. Finally in a two-game split with USA South foe Methodist, Grissom was a combined 3-for-6 with one run scored, one run batted in, one triple, three walks and one stolen base. Also Nominated: Greg Beran, Shenandoah; J.T. Crowder, Averett; James Feldmann, Greensboro.

Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Timothy Coston, Averett - The Knightdale, North Carolina freshman earned a win in his first collegiate start, which was is only appearance last week for the Cougars. In a 4-3 win over Wilkes, Coston earned the victory by tossing 8.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and three walks with 11 strikeouts. Also Nominated: Adam Duncan, Ferrum; Josh Clarke, Methodist.

Softball Rookie of the Week
Carla Matthews, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman infielder/outfielder from Newsoms, Virginia went 6-for-12 (.500) with seven runs scored, four RBI, one double, one home run and two walks as the Bishops posted a 3-1 record last week. In a doubleheader split with Emory & Henry, Matthews was a combined 2-for-6 with three runs scored, two RBI, one home run and one walk. In a doubleheader sweep of Salem, Matthews was a combined 4-for-6 with four runs scored, two RBI, one double and one walk. Also Nominated: Alicia Eichenlaub, Ferrum; Lindsay Tippett, Methodist; Morgan Jones, Averett; Sabrina Hill, Christopher Newport.

Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Amy Hamlett, Averett - The Chase City, Virginia freshman earned a 3-0 record last week in four appearances for the Cougars last week. Hamlet totaled 17.2 innings pitched and allowed three runs on 24 hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. In a 9-4 win over Randolph, Hamlett earned the victory by going five innings and allowing two runs on ten hits with one walk and three strikeouts. In a doubleheader split with Emory & Henry, Hamlett earned a no-decision out of the bullpen in the first contest then tossed a complete-game shutout in the second matchup to earn a victory. Finally, in a 10-1 win over Virginia Intermont, Hamlett collected a win by pitching all five innings and allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts. Also Nominated: Kyla Malone, Methodist.

Lacrosse Rookie of the Week
Liz Bereit, Shenandoah - The Latrobe, Pennsylvania freshman defender tallied seven points on six goals and one assist last week as the Hornets posted a 1-1 record. Bereit also accumulated six groundballs, five draw controls and one caused turnover last week. In a 10-8 loss to Goucher, Bereit scored one goal, dished out one assist, collected five groundballs, three draw controls and one caused turnover. In a 15-0 win over USA South rival Ferrum, Bereit tallied five scores and added two draw controls with one groundball. Also Nominated: Caila Cummings, Ferrum; Hope Motahari, Methodist.

Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Dillon Sullivan, Methodist - The freshman from Morganville, New Jersey earned a 3-1 record at the number-five singles slot last week for the Monarchs. Sullivan earned wins over opponents from Findlay, Palm Beach and Bridgewater. Also Nominated: Jyri Hayrinen, Averett.

Women's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Caroline Hunt, Meredith - The freshman from Rocky Mount, North Carolina earned a 2-2 singles record and a 3-1 doubles record last week for the Avenging Angels. Hunt earned one singles win at both the number two and three slots over opponents from Haverford and Bryn Myer, respectfully. Hunt teamed with Puja Patel to collect the three doubles victories. Also Nominated: Emily Talley, Methodist; Angela Stallman, Christopher Newport.

PLEASE NOTE: At least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.