Albany’s Nate Olson (Poland, Maine/Poland Regional) garners the first Player of the Week accolade of his career, while Binghamton’s Scott Diamond (Guelph, Ontario/Centennial University) and Vermont’s Joe Serafin (Tariffville, Conn./Simsbury) share Pitcher of the Week distinction. Hartford’s Weston Szymanski (Mt. Airy, Md./South Carroll) earns his second Rookie of the Week honor in as many weeks. The awards were announced on Monday (May 8).
Olson led the Great Danes offensively in two key victories over Maine last weekend. In the opener of the four-game series, Olson went 4-for-5, including a double, and drove in four runs. On Saturday, the senior outfielder, had two more hits and knocked in two. Overall, Olson went 7-for-17 (.412) with a homer and seven RBI in five games last week. His seven round-trippers rank tied for second among America East leaders.
Diamond fired a two-hit shutout over Hartford for his team-high fifth win of the season. In five starts against America East opponents, he has a 2.77 ERA. Serafin needed just 68 pitches in two-hit, complete game shutout of Stony Brook on Saturday at Centennial Field. He struck out five and walked just one in the one-hour, 12-minute gem. It was his second complete-game shutout in conference play and now he is 4-0 against America East rivals with a 1.63 ERA.
Szymanski pitched a four-hit shutout in the Hawks second game of a four-game series with the Binghamton Bearcats. This is the second weekend in a row that he has pitched a four-hit shutout of a conference opponent. In the game he saw no more than three batters in all but one inning and only had one runner get past first base all game. All of the hits he allowed were singles. He also pitched on inning of relief in the Hawks mid-week game against the Dartmouth Big Green. In that one inning he sat down all three batters by virtue of a ground out and two fly balls. For the season, Szymanski leads the team with a 2.93 ERA in his rookie campaign. He stands at 5-4 overall in 17 appearances and five starts. He has pitched three complete games and two shutouts in 55.1 innings of work allowing 56 hits, 27 runs, 18 of them earned. Szymanski is going on 16-straight innings of scoreless ball.