Empire 8 Athletes of The Week: March 11, 2013
Baseball Player of the Week – St. John Fisher
Mike Fahy, Junior, 1B – Herkimer, NY/Herkimer
St. John Fisher wrapped up its spring break trip with a 4-1 week at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, FL. Junior Mike Fahy batted 7-for-11 in four game games with two runs scored, two walks and two stolen bases. In an 8-7 loss to Saint Vincent College in 13 innings on Tuesday afternoon Fahy went 1-for-1 from the dish on a late game appearance. The Cardinals went to extra innings on Wednesday to earn a 5-3 victory (12 innings) over Coe College. Fahy led the way with a 4-for-6 outing. Friday afternoon, Fahy finished with two hits in the 10-4 win in the first game of a doubleheader against Penn State Abington. He completed the week scoring the first run in a 6-0 win over Union on Saturday. Fahy reached base on a walk, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week – St. John Fisher
Justin D’Amato, Junior - Canandaigua, NY/ Canandaigua Academy
Justin D’Amato tossed a complete-game, shutout performance on Sunday in a 6-0 win over Union College to move the Cardinals' record to 7-2 on the year. D'Amato allowed four hits on the day, three of which came in the ninth inning. The left-handed pitcher, at one point, retired 17-straight Dutchmen hitters after surrendering a hit and a walk in the third inning with one out. He entered the ninth inning with those 17-straight outs before the first three Union hitters singled off D'Amato in the ninth before the lefty focused, striking out the next two batters swinging and inducing a groundout to end the game. D'Amato finished the contest with 10 strikeouts.
Softball Player of the Week – N/A
No Nominations
Softball Pitcher of the Week – St. John Fisher
Sarah Stefanon, Senior – Perry, NY
Sarah Stefanon has a 1.05 ERA with one win and one save after 10 games in Atlanta. She recorded 34 strikeouts in 25.2 innings pitched. The Cardinals swept LaGrange College Tuesday night in a double header. Stefanon entered the game in the fifth inning struck out seven of the nine batters she faced, as she was able to close both the fifth and seventh innings on solo efforts. She also came in to close in the fifth inning during the nightcap. Despite a 3-1 loss to Methodist on Friday, Stefanon pitched a strong game in the circle for Fisher, totaling 11 strikeouts in the complete game effort. Her lone win came in relief, allowing no hits in 2.2 innings of an 11-4 win over No. 17 Ohio Northern on Sunday. Fisher also defeated No. 10 Central College on Sunday as Stefanon tossed six strikeouts.
Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Week –Houghton
Tyler Kempney, Senior, Attack/Face-off Specialist – Carthage, NY
Tyler Kempney scored 13 goals during Houghton’s two-game weekend road-trip as the Highlanders went 1-1, picking up the programs first-ever win. Kempney scored seven goals, including four in the first quarter on Friday night in a 21-12 loss to Baldwin-Wallace. He scooped up 13 groundballs and won 11-of-22 face-offs. On Saturday, Kempney finished with six goals, two assists and seven ground balls. The senior scored three straight goals in the fourth quarter to erase a two-goal deficit and lead the Highlanders to a 12-11 victory over Hiram.
Men’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Week – Nazareth
Scott Brown, Freshman – Naperville, IL/Waubonsie Valley
Scott Brown had his best game in goal of his young career as he made 11 of his 15 saves in the second half in Wednesday's 10-7 win over Clarkson. The freshman had seven saves in Sunday's 12-9 win over St. Lawrence.
Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Week – Elmira
Moorea Spoljaric, Freshman, Attack/Midfield – Saugerties, NY/Saugerties
Moorea Spoljaric finished with an 11-goal week in her first three games for Elmira. The freshman scored two goals in the first 15 minutes against Buffalo State to keep Elmira close. She scored five times including the game-winner in a tight, 12-9, win against Morrisville on Saturday. Spoljaric closed out the weekend with four goals in a win against SUNY Canton on Sunday. She also tallied 12 ground balls, eight draw controls and caused three turnovers this week.
Women’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Week – Ithaca
Jess Worthman, Senior – Commack, NY/Hauppauge
Jess Worthman opened 2013 with a pair of wins in goal for the 17th-ranked Bombers. She made four saves in 51 minutes during Ithaca's 18-5 season-opening victory over Rochester before stopping five shots in an 11-8 win for the Bombers against Geneseo Friday.
Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week – St. John Fisher
Sheldon Mitchell, Junior – Rochester, NY/Bishop Kearney
Junior Sheldon Mitchell improved to 5-0 on the spring season with four wins at fifth singles as the Cardinals competed in Hilton Head, SC. Mitchell won 12-10 in the decisive third set against Catawba on Monday. He needed three sets on Wednesday against Adrain (3-6, 7-5, 10-3) and battled back for a 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 11-9 win at fifth singles verse Malone on Thursday. Mitchell earned a point on Friday with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Elizabethtown.