Ciccone, McClennan & Olver Earn MAAC Baseball Weekly Awards
MAAC Sports
MAAC Men's Player of the Week
SAL CICCONE, FAIRFIELD
So., SS, 5-10, 190, Long Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy
Shortstop Sal Ciccone was red-hot in four games for this Stags this week, batting .643 (9-for-14), including three multi-hit games, with six runs scored and three RBI. Ciccone slugged .786 and had an on-base percentage of .667. Defensively, Ciccone turned four double plays and had just one error in 23 chances. Ciccone began the week by going 3-for-4 with a run scored at NJIT. In the Stags’ 7-1 victory in the series opener against Saint Peter’s, Ciccone accounted for three of Fairfield’s runs, finishing the game 3-for-3 with a sacrifice, two RBI, and a run scored. In the second game, Ciccone was 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. In the series finale, Ciccone went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.
MAAC Pitcher of the Week
SCOTT McCLENNAN, MANHATTAN
Jr., RHP, 6-0, 185, Highland Mills, N.Y./Cornwall
Scott McClennan tossed his second complete game of the season, going a full nine innings on Sunday, in a 2-0 win over Marist. The victory was crucial for Manhattan as it helped them win the series after splitting with the Red Foxes on Saturday. The junior righty scattered six hits throughout the game without walking a single batter. Pitching to contact the entire time, he only struck out one batter but forced Marist batters to hit into four double plays. He also helped his own cause by picking off a runner at second base to end the second inning.
MAAC Rookie of the Week
KYLE OLVER, NIAGARA
Fr., RHP, 6-6, 175, Vancouver, B.C./Prince of Whales Secondary School
The freshman got Niagara’s weekend started on the right foot with a complete-game victory over the Iona Gaels on Saturday. Olver gave up just five hits and two unearned runs with eight strikeouts and four walks over 9.0 innings in the first game of the series-opening doubleheader.
The first inning was one of three innings where Olver sat Iona down in order. The fifth should have been another three-up, three-down showing, but it was prolonged by an error. He didn’t give up a hit until the third and the fourth inning showcased the youngster’s resolve on the mound. With one out and the bases loaded, Olver got the double-play ball he was looking for to end the inning and keep Niagara’s three-run lead intact. The Vancouver, BC native gave up just one hit through the final four innings to allow the Purple Eagles to add to their lead and come away with the 7-2 win. For the afternoon he kept Iona batters to a .147 average.