PITMAN --- The New Jersey Athletic Conference has announced its baseball weekly award winners for the week ending April 5.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MICHAEL WEINBEL • Rutgers-Newark
Senior • Infield • Middletown, NJ/Middletown
Weinbel earns NJAC Player of the Week after a dominant week at the plate across four conference games for the Scarlet Raiders. The senior infielder went 10-for-14 (.714) with five RBI, seven runs scored, two home runs, a double, and an .810 on-base percentage without recording a single strikeout. Weinbel opened with a 2-for-4 effort including a double and an RBI in a 9-3 win over NJCU on Wednesday before erupting for a 4-for-5 performance with a home run, three RBI, and three runs scored in a 13-6 victory over the Gothic Knights on Thursday. He stayed hot over Saturday's doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden, going 3-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, and three runs scored in game one before adding a hit in game two. Weinbel currently ranks fourth in the NJAC in batting average, second in home runs, and 10th in hits.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
LUCAS WHITE • Kean University
Sophomore • Pitcher • Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township
White has been selected as NJAC Pitcher of the Week after tossing eight scoreless innings in Kean's 3-0 conference victory over Ramapo on Thursday. The sophomore right-hander scattered six hits — five of them singles — while striking out seven and walking three. White improved to 4-1 on the season with the dominant outing, holding the Roadrunners off the scoreboard through eight complete frames.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
MATT CARUSO • William Paterson University
Freshman • Outfield • North Haledon, NJ/Passaic County Technical
Caruso claims NJAC Rookie of the Week honors after batting .450 (9-for-20) with eight RBI, a home run, two doubles, and seven runs scored during a 3-2 week for the Pioneers. The freshman outfielder delivered his best performance in a 16-14 come-from-behind conference victory over No. 21 Montclair State on April 3, recording a career-high four hits and five RBI with a double and his first collegiate home run. Caruso hit a game-tying double and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning against the Red Hawks. He also contributed across conference doubleheader wins over New Jersey City on Saturday, going 2-for-6 with two RBI and four runs scored.
ROOKIE PITCHER OF THE WEEK
CHRIS MATESIC • Montclair State University
Freshman • Pitcher • Paramus, NJ/Paramus
Matesic garners NJAC Rookie Pitcher of the Week after a stellar start in Montclair State's 4-2 conference victory over No. 7 Rowan on Saturday. The freshman right-hander worked 7.1 innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits with a season-high eight strikeouts and only one walk against the Profs. Matesic improved to 6-0 on the season with the win.