NEC Player of the Week:  Jake Russo, NHVN
NEC Pitcher of the Week: Parker Hampton, NSU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Drew Cisney, FDU

Previous NEC Releases: March 24 | March 17 | March 10 | March 3 | February 24 | February 17 | Preseason Poll Release

NEC BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jake Russo, New Haven
Jr., C
Yaphank, NY/Bellport                                                                         
New Haven picked up its first NEC series win of its debut season by taking two games off Wagner over the weekend at home. Leading the way for the Chargers was junior catcher Russo, who batted .500 (8-for-16) at the plate last week. The Yaphank, NY native shined in a pair of 9-8 victories over the Seahawks by going 5-for-8, scoring three runs and driving in one more in the two triumphs. Russo also cracked three doubles and smacked a homer in four games for the Chargers last week to finish with a 1.375 OPS off a .875 slugging percentage and a .500 OBP. This marks the first time a New Haven athlete has been tabbed NEC Player of the Week during its inaugural baseball season as a NEC member.

NEC BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK 
Parker Hampton, Norfolk State
Jr., RHP/INF
Virginia Beach, VA/Bayside HS
Hampton pitched a complete game shutout in Norfolk State’s 3-0 win over Mercyhurst on Saturday. The junior righty had four punchouts while allowing just five hits and walking one batter. Additionally, he held the Laker batters to a .167 average through 30 at-bats. Hampton is the first Norfolk State hurler to toss a complete game shutout in almost three years as it marked his second win on the year. Hampton finished the game with a 0.444 WHIP. The Virginia Beach, VA native has thrown the second-most innings in the conference with 34.1 and has struck out 25 batters, which ranks seventh in the NEC. The Spartans currently sit at 7-5 in league play after clinching a series win over Mercyhurst this past weekend. This is the first time a Norfolk State has had multiple NEC Pitcher of the Week winners in the same season since joining the conference as an associate member in 2023. 
 

NEC BASEBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Drew Cisney, FDU
Fr., RHP
Pittston, PA/Holy Redeemer
Cisney earned his second collegiate win on the mound after throwing seven innings of two-hit ball in FDU’s 9-0 shutout win over Delaware State on Sunday. In addition to allowing just two hits, the rookie righty also struck out two batters and walked another pair in the win. Cisney also posted an efficient .571 WHIP in the contest as the Knights improved to a conference-best 10-2 in NEC play. FDU has, now, had a NEC Rookie of the Week selection in back-to-back seasons.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Drew Cisney, Fr., RHP, FDU
Named NEC Rookie of the Week.
7.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 BBs, 2 Ks, 1 win, .571 WHIP

Hunter Ray, So., OF, FDU
.300 BA, 6-for-20, 2 runs, 6 RBIs, 2 HRs, 6 BBs, .650 slug%, .462 OBP, 1.112 OPS

Travis Stroh, So., CF, FDU
.400 BA, 8-for-20, 8 runs, 7 RBIs, 2 HRs, 3 BBs, 4 SBs, .700 slug%, .478 OBP, 1.178 OPS

Justin DeCastro, Sr., RHP, LIU
7.0 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 3 BBs, 1 CG, 2 Ks, 1 win, 1.000 WHIP

Elijah Fairchild, Jr., SS/2B, LIU
.600 BA, 6-for-10, 5 runs, 3 RBIs, 1 2B, 2 BBs, .700 slug%, .692 OBP, 1.392 OPS

Henry Clausell, Fr., 3B/RHP, UMES
.300 BA, 3-for-10, 2 runs, 6 RBIs, 2 HRs, 1 BB, .900 slug%, .364 OBP, 1.264 OPS

Julian Jimenez, Sr., CF, UMES
.538 BA, 7-for-13, 4 runs, 3 RBBIs, 2 3Bs, 2 BBs, 1 SB, .846 slug%, .647 OBP, 1.493 OPS

Jake Russo, Jr., C, NHVN
Selected as NEC Player of the Week.
.500 BA, 8-for-16, 4 runs, 3 RBIs, 3 2Bs, 1 HR, .875 slug%, .500 OBP, 1.375 OPS

Parker Hampton, Jr., RHP, NSU
Tabbed NEC Pitcher of the Week.
9.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 runs, 1 BB, 1 CG, 1 K, 1 win, 0.444 WHIP

Jamison Howland, Jr., OF, STO
.429 BA, 3-for-7, 1 runs, 7 RBIs, 1 3B, 1 BB, 1 SB, .714 slug%, .500 OBP, 1.214 OPS

Sam Parks, Gr., OF, STO
.467 BA, 7-for-15, 7 runs, 2 RBIs, 1 2B, 7 BBs, 1 SB, .533 slug%, .636 OBP, 1.169 OPS

Diego Tavarez, Jr., OF, WAG
.438 BA, 7-for-16, 6 runs, 7 RBIs, 2 2Bs, 5 BBs, 1 SB, .563 slug%, .545 OBP, 1.108 OPS

2026 NEC BASEBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 17: Ryan Rivera, LIU
Feb. 24: Justin Journette, NSU
Mar. 3: Joseph Mennella, WAG
Mar. 10: Jack Cannon, LEM
Mar. 17: Johnathan Gomez, FDU
Mar. 24: Jeremy Cheeseman, FDU
Mar. 31: Jake Russo, NHVN
Apr. 7: 

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 17: Ethan Blakeney, NSU
Feb. 24: Chris Messina, FDU
Mar. 3: Richard De Jesus, UMES
Mar. 10: Jake Cumming, CSU
Mar. 17: Ryan Douglas, STO
Mar. 24: Colin Trizuto, WAG
Mar. 31: Parker Hampton, NSU
Apr. 7: 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Feb. 17: Kacin Robinson, STO
Feb. 24: Mason Mompoint, NSU
Mar. 3: Richard De Jesus, UMES
Mar. 10: Isaac Brozon, LEM
Mar. 17: Jaylin Manson, NHVN
Mar. 24: Kacin Robinson, STO
Mar. 31: Drew Cisney, FDU
Apr. 7: