NEC Player of the Week: Zack Kovalchik, SHU
NEC Pitcher of the Week: Patrick Gardner, FDU
NEC Co-Rookies of the Week: Mike Whelehan, LEM & Diego Tavarez, WC

Previous NEC Releases: April 2 | March 26 | March 19 | March 12 | March 5 | February 27 | February 20 | Preseason Poll Release

NEC BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Zack Kovlachik, Sacred Heart
Jr., CF
Archbald, PA/Valley View                                                            
Kovalchik put together an impressive performance at the plate as Sacred Heart went 2-1 in its weekend series against conference foe Coppin State. The junior recorded a standout OPS of 2.011 after posting a .455 / .647 / 1.364 slash. Kovalchik scored eight runs and drove in six more for the first-place Pioneers as they improved to 12-3 in NEC play. The Archbald, PA native also hit three home runs, including a walk-off homer leading off the 10th inning in Sunday’s 9-8 win over the Eagles. It was his first career walk-off hit. Kovalchik’s 25 RBIs this season rank sixth in the league.

NEC BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK 
Patrick Gardner, FDU
Jr., LHP
Staten Island, NY/College of Staten Island
In FDU’s win at Delaware State on Friday, Gardner tossed a complete game shutout. The junior southpaw struck out 11 batters and allowed only two hits. The Staten Island, NY native is now 3-1 on the mound this season and his 48 strikeouts on the year are tied for third in the conference.
  

NEC BASEBALL CO-ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
Mike Whelehan, Le Moyne
Fr., IF
Hilton, NY/Hilton
Le Moyne won its weekend series against Stonehill with Whelehan anchoring the offense. The freshman infielder went 6-for-12, while scoring three runs and driving in five more. The Hilton, NY native added a stolen base over the weekend. He posted a 1.000 OPS over three games.

Diego Tavares, Wagner
Fr., IF
Spotswood, NJ/Ranney
Tavarez posted an impressive .750 / .750 / 1.125 slash for a 1.875 OPS as Wagner won two of three games last week against Norfolk State. The freshman recorded five RBIs along with scoring two runs of his own, and homered once. Tavarez currently leads the NEC in batting average (.425), OPS (1.095) and on-base percentage (.545).

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Gianno Merlonghi, CCSU, Jr., OF
.538 BA, 7-for-13, 1 run, 1 3B, 2 RBIs, .538 OBP, .692 slug%, 1.231 OPS

Braylon Watson, CSU, Fr., OF
.385 BA, 5-for-13, 2 runs, 1 2B, 6 RBIs, 1 SB, .385 OBP, .462 slg%, .846 OPS

Patrick Gardner, FDU, Jr., LHP
9.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 4 BBs, 11 Ks, .6667 WHIP
NEC Pitcher of the Week.

Mike Whelehan, LEM, Fr., IF
.500 BA, 6-for-12, 3 runs, 5 RBIs, 1 SB, .500 OBP, .500 slug%, 1.000 OPS
NEC Co-Rookie of the Week.

Jack Power, LIU, Jr., 2B/C
.333 BA, 4-for-12, 3 runs, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 3 BBs, .471 OBP, .833 slug%, 1.304 OPS

Seth Surrett, LIU, Gr., RF
.500, 5-for-10, 4 runs, 1 2B, 3 RBIs, 4 BBs, 1 SB, .643 OBP, .600 slug%, 1.243 OPS

Braydon Dolbashian, MC, Gr., IF
.467 BA, 7-for-15, 4 runs, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 2 BBs, .556 OBP, .867 slug%, 1.422 OPS

Manny Jackson, NSU, Sr., C
.684 BA, 13-for-19, 3 runs, 2 2B, 5 RBIs, .684 OBP, .789 slug%, 1.474 OPS

Dante D'Amore, SHU, Jr., 1B
.636 BA, 7-for-11, 3 runs, 2 HRs, 8 RBIs, 1 BB, .667 OBP, 1.182 slug%, 1.848 OPS

Zack Kovalchik, SHU, Jr., CF
.455 BA, 5-for-11, 8 runs, 3 HRs, 1 2B, 6 RBIs, 1 SB, .647 OBP, 1.364 slug%, 2.011 OPS
NEC Player of the Week.

Taylor Gaspar, STO, Jr., OF
.400 BA, 4-for-10, 4 runs, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 2 BBs, .538 OBP, .700 slug%, 1.238 OPS

Diego Tavarez, WC, Fr., IF/DH
.750 BA, 6-for-8, 2 runs, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 3 BBs, .750 OBP, 1.125 slug%, 1.875 OPS
NEC Co-Rookie of the Week. 

2024 Baseball Weekly Award Winners:

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 20: Chris Amparo, DSU
Feb. 27: Brody Keneston, LEM
Mar. 5: Nick Nevins, LEM
Mar. 12: Samuel Nieves, CSU
Mar. 19: Justin Journette, NSU
Mar. 26: Dawson Bryce, MC
Apr. 2: Benji Ries, LEM
Apr. 9: Zack Kovalchik, SHU

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 20: Kieran Etwaru, DSU
Feb. 27: Brayden Ryan, MC
Mar. 5: Zach Gleason, STO
Mar. 12: Jake Babuschak, SHU
Mar. 19: Zac Capps, FDU
Mar. 26: Dominic Pieto, LIU
Apr. 2: Jacob Crystal, LEM
Apr. 9: Patrick Gardner, FDU

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Feb. 20: Connor Roche, WC
Feb. 27: Dawson Bryce, MC
Mar. 5: Jalan Jones, NSU
Mar. 12: Dawson Bryce, MC
Mar. 19: Josiah Ross, WC
Mar. 26: Dawson Bryce, MC
Apr. 2: Gavin Donohue, SHU
Apr. 9: Mike Whelhan, LEM & Diego Tavarez, WC