GNAC Baseball Athlete of the Week Report #3

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Johnny Brucato, Mitchell (Sr.)

Senior Johnny Brucato played a major role in Mitchell’s offensive production during a six-game stretch, batting .345 (10-for-29) with six runs scored, four doubles, two triples, and 15 RBI while posting a .387 on-base percentage and .621 slugging percentage. He also added six extra-base hits and 18 total bases during the week. His biggest performances came in two key road victories. In an 18–1 win over No. 20 Case Western Reserve, he went 2-for-5 with a double, triple, and five RBI, helping power Mitchell’s explosive offensive output. He followed that with another standout performance in a 13–4 win over SUNY Cobleskill, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, two runs scored, and five RBI. He also contributed a 3-for-5 effort with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI in Mitchell’s 8–6 victory over Marietta, giving him three multi-hit games and four games with multiple RBI on the week.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Padraig Mac Seain, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Sr.)

Senior Padraig Mac Seain delivered a dominant outing to lead Saint Joseph’s to a 6-0 victory over Mount St. Joseph on March 13. The southpaw tossed a complete-game two-hit shutout, striking out 11 batters while issuing just one walk across seven innings of work. Mac Seain allowed only two baserunners through the first five frames and finished with a 0.43 WHIP and a 14.14 strikeouts-per-nine rate in the win, helping the Monks secure the non-conference victory.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Tyler Nelson, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Fr.)

Freshman Tyler Nelson earned the win in his collegiate debut, striking out 11 batters over six innings in a 10-3 victory over Emerson on March 10. The right-hander allowed three runs on six hits with two walks while posting a 16.50 strikeouts-per-nine rate.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Eric Galarza, Albertus Magnus - Galarza had six extra base hits during the week, including two triples and a grand slam as he went 13-for-26 on the week with 13 RBI's. 

Micah McManus, Colby-Sawyer - McManus would be a highlight for the Chargers this week has he would post a 0.00 era over the span of 6.0 innings pitched across two appearances. He would go 5 innings against Wentworth where he would strikeout 4 with a 9.00 k/9 allowing just 5 hits. He would follow that performance with a closing roll as he would pick up the save in a 3-1 victory over Old Westbury with two punch outs.

Kyler Lorenz, Dean - Lorenz batted a .478 average in seven games this week down in Myrtle Beach, which included 11 hits, 8 RBIs, and 2 SB.

Colby Arnold, Elms - Arnold fanned 11 batters and allowed no earned runs in six innings of work in a win over Martin Luther.

Connor Freitas, Lasell - Freitas went 10-for-23 with eight RBI's, including two home runs.

Jacob Quiles, Mitchell - Quiles delivered a dominant week on the mound for Mitchell, posting a 1–0 record with a 1.23 ERA across two appearances out of the bullpen while striking out 11 batters in 7.1 innings. His most impactful outing came in an 8–6 victory over Marietta, where he threw 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out 10 batters. He also added 1.1 innings of relief in a win over Ferrum, finishing the week with just four hits allowed and a .95 WHIP while averaging 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Chas Terni Jr., Mitchell - Terni Jr. was a major producer at the plate for Mitchell during a six-game spring break stretch, batting .440 (11-for-25) with seven runs scored, two home runs, nine RBI, and a .720 slugging percentage. He reached base at a .483 clip while recording five multi-hit performances during the week. He delivered several clutch performances in Mitchell victories, including a 2-for-4 effort with a home run and two RBI in an 8–6 win over Marietta, followed by a 2-for-4 performance with a home run and four RBI in a 13–4 win over SUNY Cobleskill. He also added two hits in wins over Ferrum, Swarthmore, and Case Western Reserve.

Nic Frink, Saint Joseph's (Maine) - Frink hit .520 (13-for-25) with nine runs scored, two home runs, seven RBI, and three stolen bases over eight games as Saint Joseph’s went 6-2 on the week. He posted a .567 on-base percentage and a .760 slugging percentage, recorded four multi-hit games, went 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in a 10-3 win over Emerson, hit a go-ahead home run in a 5-4 victory over Anderson, and added a three-run homer in a 6-0 win over Mount St. Joseph.

Jack Kane, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) - Kane put together an impressive week across six games as the Blue Jays went 3-3 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The sophomore finished the week 11-for-22 (.500) at the plate with a .593 on‑base percentage and a .636 slugging percentage. Three of his hits went for extra bases, highlighted by a two-run double in the second inning that proved to be the game-winner in a 5–2 victory over UMass Boston on Thursday (3/12). He also scored six runs and drove in six. Kane opened the week by going 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored in an 10–7 loss to Sage on Monday (3/9). He followed that performance by going 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in a 6–4 win over Bowdoin (3/10), before turning in a 4-for-8 showing with four RBIs and two runs scored in a split doubleheader against UMass Dartmouth (3/13). Kane capped his strong week off going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored in a 9–8 loss against Babson (3/14).

Aaron LaRose, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) - LaRose continued his strong sophomore campaign, improving to 2–0 on the season after another dominant outing in a 5-2 win over UMass Boston on Thursday (3/12) in Florida. The sophomore right-hander threw 6.0 strong innings, allowing three hits and two runs while setting a new career-high in strikeouts with 11. He finished the day with a 3.00 ERA and a 16.50 K/9, anchoring the Blue Jays on the mound in their fourth game of their spring break trip at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. 

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