CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- Despite the windy, snowy weather up and down much of the East Coast over the past weekend, America East baseball is 20 games into the 2009 season and the first weekly award winners of the season have been announced. University of Maine's Myckie Lugbauer (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) is week one's Player of the Week, while teammate Kyle Stilphen (Pittston, Maine/Gardiner) is the recipient of the first Rookie of the Week award. Binghamton University's right-handed hurler Murphy Smith (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) rounds out the winners as the Pitcher of the Week for the period ending March 1.
Lugbauer, a third-team preseason All-American, leads Maine and the conference with a .458 batting average through the first six games. The junior catcher/first baseman, has recorded hits in five of the Black Bears' first six games where he has appeared at the plate 24 times. In the four-game series with the UNLV Rebels, Lugbauer had three hits in the second game, and went 3-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI in the series finale, which Maine won, 11-9. In a two-game series with Delaware State, the Black Bear registered a double and his first homerun of the season. He has seven RBI on the season to pace the Black Bears, who are 2-4 on the young season.
Smith, a junior righty, made one appearance so far this season, and shut down Dallas Baptist for five innings. An All-Tournament Team selection at last year's America East Baseball Championship, Smith scattered four hits, walked one, struck out one, and retired the side in order in three of his five innings. Smith is off to a great start this season with a 0.00 earned run average and a 1-0 record on his season stat sheet. The Bearcats are 1-2 on the season.
Stilphen played in five of Maine's first six games, seeing time at second base, third base and as the designated hitter. The rookie has recorded a hit in three of his games played, including a 2-for-3 performance with an RBI in game three of the four-game series against UNLV. Stilphen has a .308 batting averaged in 13 plate appearances in his first collegiate season.