SXU's Orzech, VU's Sanchez Collect Baseball Weekly Accolades

CHICAGO --- Twelve runs batted in over a six-game stretch by Saint Xavier University's Aaron Orzech (Shorewood, Ill.) and a shutout delivered by Viterbo University's Anthony Sanchez (Fontana, Calif.) have garnered the pair Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, the league office announced on Tuesday morning.

Orzech authored RBIs in five of the six games in which he appeared during the seven-day span ending April 13 to go along with a .500 batting average (8-of-16) and .667 on-base percentage.  The latter came via seven walks.

Defensively, Orzech was perfect on 27 fielding chances, including 23 putouts.

The junior catcher also produced a trio of multi-hit games, including a pair in a doubleheader sweep of Olivet Nazarene University on Friday.  In that twinbill, he went a perfect 6-for-6 with three doubles and six runs batted in.  Four of the RBIs came in Game 2, an 11-1 victory.

Orzech also drove in four runs in an 18-9 Game 2 decision over Judson University last Tuesday when he went 2-for-3 with a home run.

Saint Xavier went 4-2 on the week to improve to 22-18 overall and 15-9 in league play.  The Cougars are tied for first place in the conference standings with University of St. Francis.

Sanchez notched his shutout on Saturday, where he blanked Calumet College of St. Joseph 11-0.  The senior left-hander allowed just two hits and two walks in the seven-inning stint.  He also struck out five batters.

Viterbo posted a 4-1 mark on the week to up its records to 19-17 overall and 14-10 in the conference, where the V-Hawks sit one game out of first place.

Other Player Nominees: Brett Stuessel (Viterbo), Aden Aukland (Olivet Nazarene), Kaleb Farnham (Indiana South Bend), Ethan Fleming (St. Francis), Shane Jones (Trinity Christian), Gio Pappas (Calumet St. Joseph), Daley Thompson (Judson).

Other Pitcher Nominees: Matt Johnston (Judson), Andrew Parker (Indiana South Bend), Gunnar Bettenhausen (Trinity Christian), Ian Clark (Calumet St. Joseph), Jacob Jurka (St. Francis), Logan McCleery (Saint Xavier).