THAYER NAMED SUNYAC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
SUNY Potsdam freshman Ashley Thayer was named the State University of New York Athletic Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 7-13, the league announced Monday. Thayer, a pitcher and outfielder, tossed the first no-hitter in school history last Thursday in the Bears' 4-0 victory over Regis at the week-long Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla. The Winthrop, N.Y., native struck out nine while walking just three in the complete-game classic while also going 2-for-4 with a run scored at the plate. For the week, Thayer posted a 3-1 record in four starts, registering a solid 3.16 earned run average while pitching two other complete games. In her collegiate debut against Bridgewater State on March 7, Thayer allowed just two hits, two runs (none earned) and three walks while striking out 14 in a 7-2 Potsdam triumph.
TALLON NANED SUNRISE CO-COACH OF THE YEAR, OTHERS HONORED
Four members of the SUNY Canton women’s basketball team received postseason honors from the Sunrise Conference at the awards banquet in South Portland, Maine prior to the conference tournament. Seventh-year head coach Bruce Tallon was named co-Coach of the Year, senior forward Shannon LaFave (Ogdensburg, N.Y.) and junior guard Brittany Kenyon (Hammond, N.Y.) earned all-conference honors, and sophomore forward Jackie Sedlacek (Endicott, N.Y.) was named the Outstanding Scholar-Athlete in women’s basketball. Tallon earned top coaching honors for the second time in the past four years after guiding the Roos to a 10-2 conference mark and the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. The Roos advanced to the championship game for the second straight year and third time in the past four seasons. LaFave earned First Team honors for the second straight year after averaging a team-leading 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She shot 44 percent from the field and 68 percent from the free throw line and collected four double-doubles and 10 steals while starting every game this year. LaFave finishes her stellar career with 1,157 points, 520 rebounds, 47 assists, and 42 steals. Kenyon was selected to the Second Team after averaging 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. She converted 68 percent of her free throw attempts and earned all-conference honors for the second time in her career. Sedlacek, a Criminal Investigations major, had the highest grade-point average of all women’s basketball players in the conference. She averaged 3.8 points and 6.4 this year.
VALENTIN NAMED TO SUNRISE ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Senior guard Tony Valentin (Perth Amboy, N.J.) has been selected to the all-Sunrise Conference Second Team in men’s basketball. The honor was announced at an awards banquet prior to the start of the conference tournament in South Portland, Maine. Valentin, who also received a Scholar-Athlete award, led the Roos in scoring for the third straight year pumping in 18.8 points per game. He connected on 27 3-pointers and also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Valentin shot 48 percent from the floor and 77 percent from the free throw line and earned all-conference honors for the second time in his career. Valentin leaves SUNY Canton as one of the all-time leading scorers in school history. In 62 career games, he has scored 1,225 points, grabbed 265 rebounds, handed out 190 assists, and made 51 steals.
Jerry Coleman Liberty League Co-Performer of the Week
Coleman batted .615 (8-for-13) over four games with five walks (.722 OBP), driving in four runs and scoring four more times with a pair of stolen bases in Clarkson's first four games.
David Wixted Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Week
Wixted hit .500 in three games last week, going 5-for-10 with four runs scored and a pair of RBI
Ryan Cole Liberty League Co-Defensive Performer of the Week
Cole backstopped Clarkson to a 1-1 record for the week, combing for 24 saves in the two games. He posted eight saves in the Knights 8-7 double-overtime victory against Brockport State on Wednesday and finished with 16 stops in Saturday's 9-6 loss to nationally-ranked St. John Fisher.
Anna Marchand Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week
Marchand made 12 saves including several from point-blank range in St. Lawrence's 2011 opener against nationally-ranked #7 Cortland State.
Wendy Pavlus Liberty League Track Performer of the Week
Pavlus won her second straight NCAA Division III indoor 5000 meter championship and her fourth straight NCAA championship overall including cross country. She improved her own SLU record with a winning time of 16:51.78, winning by nearly eight seconds
