Photos courtesy of Brown Sports Information, Cornell Athletic Communications and Harvard Athletic Communications
PRINCETON, N.J. -- In the first weekend of inter-divisional matchups, Cornell and Dartmouth each maintained their hold at the top of the Lou Gehrig and Red Rolfe Divisions, respectively, thanks to 3-1 weekends for each squad. The Big Red (10-2 Ivy) took three out of four from Columbia (6-6 Ivy), while Dartmouth (7-5 Ivy) did the same to Brown (4-8 Ivy).
In the Lou Gehrig Division, Cornell holds a one-game edge on Princeton (9-3 Ivy), which also went 3-1 over the weekend, against Penn (6-6 Ivy). Harvard (4-8 Ivy) took three of four from Yale (2-10 Ivy) to move into a tie with Brown for second-place in the Rolfe Division, three games behind Dartmouth.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Harvard's 3-1 weekend was part of an overall 4-2 week that saw the Crimson defeat city-rival Boston College, 5-2. Sophomore shortstop Jake McGuiggan (Hinghan, Mass.) was a key component of Harvard's successful week, as he batted .458 (11-of-24) with three doubles, four runs and four RBI. For his efforts, McGuiggan was named Ivy League Player of the Week.
McGuiggan finished with four multi-hit games, including an impressive 4-of-5 performance against BC, with one double, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base. For the week, he slugged .583 and finished with a .480 on-base percentage. He also swiped two bases.
McGuiggan's award marks the first weekly honor for a Harvard player this season. He took home his first-ever Ivy League weekly award and became the first Crimson player to be named Player of the Week since Tyler Albright shared the honor with Penn's Tom Grandieri on April 27, 2010.
McGuiggan's Weekly Stats
6 GP, .458 AVG. (11-of-24), .583 Slugging %, .480 OBP, 1 BB, 4 Runs, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 2 SB
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Cornell sophomore pitcher Connor Kaufmann (Midlothian, Va.) was named Ivy League Pitcher of the Week thanks to a complete game victory over Columbia on April 14.
Kaufmann pitched eight innings in a seven-inning affair to give his team a chance to pull out a 2-1 victory over the Lions in extra innings. He gave up five hits, walked one and struck out three. He limited Columbia batters to .172 at the plate (5-of-29) and is now tied for the team lead with five victories.
Kaufmann earned his second career Pitcher of the Week award and his second in the past three weeks (April 3).
Kaufmann's Weekly Stats
1 APP, 1 GS, 1 CG, 8.0 IP, 5 Hits, 1 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA, 1-0
ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
The Ivy League Rookie of the Week award could not be limited to just one player, as Brown freshman Will Marcal (Lexington, Mass.) and Cornell freshman Brian McAfee (Bothell, Wash.) shared the honor.
Marcal earned his second-straight Rookie of the Week award after batting .400 (8-of-20) in five games with a triple, a home run, two RBI and five runs. He slugged .650 and stole a base as Brown went 2-3, including wins over UConn and Dartmouth. Marcal tallied two multi-hit games, including a 4-of-4 performance against the Huskies with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base.
Marcal's Weekly Stats
5 GP, .400 AVG. (8-of-20), .650 Slugging %, 5 Runs, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB
McAfee made his one appearance on the mound count, giving up three hits over eight innings and striking out three in a 3-0 win over Columbia. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning while retiring 11 straight and allowed just two runners past first base on the day. He now leads the team in innings pitched (43) and strikeouts (32). McAfee took home his first career Ivy League weekly award and became the first Cornell Rookie of the Week since Corey Pappel on March 11, 2008.
McAfee's Weekly Stats
1 APP, 1 GS, 8.0 IP, 3 Hits, 1 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA, 1-0
HONOR ROLL
Alex Black, Columbia, Jr., Inf. (The Woodlands, Texas)
5 GP, .550 AVG. (11-of-20), .600 Slugging %, 1 BB, 2 Runs, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 SB
Cale Hanson, Yale, So., Inf. (Katy, Texas)
6 GP, .409 AVG. (9-of-22), .458 OBP, 2 BB, 3 Runs, 1 RBI, 2 SB
Kyle Hunter, Dartmouth, Jr., LHP (Palm City, Fla.)
1 APP, 1 GS, 1 CG, 7.0 IP, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 4 K, 1.29 ERA, 1-0
Pat Ludwig, Yale, Sr., P (Okemos, Mich.)
1 APP, 1 GS, 1 CG, 8.0 IP, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 8 K, 2.25 ERA, 0-1
Pat Lowery, Columbia, Sr., RHP (Oakdale, Conn.)
1 APP, 1 GS, 6.0 IP, 2 Hits, 8 K, 0.00 ERA
Chris O'Dowd, Dartmouth, Jr., C (Cherry Hills Village, Colo.)
4 GP, .417 AVG. (5-of-12), .833 Slugging %, .500 OBP, 2 BB, 6 Runs, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Cody Slaughter, Brown, Jr., Inf. (New Port Richey, Fla.)
5 GP, .333 AVG. (7-of-21), .571 Slugging %, .364 OBP, 1 BB, 4 Runs, 2 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI
Blake Thomsen, Princeton, Fr., Inf. (Newport Beach, Calif.)
3 GP, .455 AVG. (5-of-11), .818 Slugging %, 3 Runs, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI
David Toups, Yale, Fr., Inf. (Houston)
6 GP, .438 AVG. (7-of-16), .500 Slugging %, .471 OBP, 1 BB, 2 Runs, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Vince Voiro, Penn, Sr., RHP (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
1 APP, 1 GS, 8.0 IP, 8 Hits, 1 BB, 7 K, 4.50 ERA, 1-0
Greg Zebrack, Penn, Jr., OF (Northridge, Calif.)
5 GP, .381 AVG. (8-of-21), .810 Slugging %, .409 OBP, 1 BB, 6 Runs, 3 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI
2012 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
March 6 – Brian Billigen (Cornell)
March 13 – Kevin Fortunato (Yale)
March 20 – Sam Mulroy (Princeton)
March 27 – Dario Pizzano (Columbia)
April 3 – Greg Zebrack (Penn)
April 10 – Joe Sclafani (Dartmouth)
April 17 – Jake McGuiggan (Harvard)
2012 PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
March 6 – Zak Hermans (Princeton)
March 13 – Vince Voiro (Penn)
March 20 – Stefan Olson (Columbia)
March 27 – Vince Voiro (Penn)
April 3 – Connor Kaufmann (Cornell)
April 10 – Matt Bowman (Princeton)
April 17 – Connor Kaufmann (Cornell)
2012 ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
March 6 – Matt Robinson (Dartmouth)
March 13 – David Toups (Yale)
March 20 – Tyler Servais (Princeton)
March 27 – Connor Cuff (Penn)
April 3 – Adam Frank (Dartmouth)
April 10 – Will Marcal (Brown)
April 17 – Will Marcal (Brown)/Brian McAfee (Cornell)
2012 HONOR ROLLS
March 6 – Nick Ferraresi (Columbia), Kevin Fortunato (Yale), Brent Jones (Cornell), Jeff Keller (Dartmouth), Pat Ludwig (Yale), Will Marcal (Brown), Jordan Serena (Columbia), Kevin Tatum (Cornell), Zack Tax (Columbia)
March 13 – Brian Billigen (Cornell), Austin Bossart (Penn), Ryan Deitrich (Penn), Matt Doyle (Harvard), Brent Jones (Cornell), Christopher O'Hare (Yale), Robb Paller (Columbia), Billy Rumpke (Columbia), David Speer (Columbia)
March 20 – Carlton Bailey (Harvard), Zach Boden (Harvard), Austin Bossart (Penn), Chris Cruz (Cornell), Cale Hanson (Yale), Mitch Horacek (Dartmouth), Brent Jones (Cornell), Pat Ludwig (Yale), Thomas Roulis (Dartmouth), Billy Rumpke (Columbia), John Sheridan (Brown), David Turnbull (Dartmouth), Derek Vigoa (Penn), Vince Voiro (Penn), Taylor Wright (Brown)
March 27 – Brian Billigen (Cornell), Spencer Branigan (Penn), Ethan Ferreira (Harvard), Mitch Horacek (Dartmouth), Brent Jones (Cornell), Alex Keller (Princeton), Nick Lombardi (Dartmouth), Pat Lawery (Columbia), Joe Sclafani (Dartmouth), David Spinosa (Columbia), Wes Van Boom (Brown)
April 3 – Matt Bowman (Princeton), Jack Colton (Harvard), Jon Eisen (Columbia), Nick Fornaca (Brown), J.J. Franco (Brown), Joe Lubanski (Yale), Pat Ludwig (Yale), Heath Mayo (Brown), Sam Mulroy (Princeton), Jordan Serena (Columbia), Tyler Servais (Princeton), David Speer (Columbia), Brent Suter (Harvard), Kevin Tatum (Cornell), Vince Voiro (Penn)
April 10 – Tanner Anderson (Harvard), Nolan Becker (Yale), Ryan Brenner (Yale), Jon Eisen (Columbia), Mitch Horacek (Dartmouth), Jake McGuiggan (Harvard), John Mishu (Princeton), Brenton Peters (Cornell), Thomas Roulis (Dartmouth), David Speer (Columbia), David Spinosa (Columbia), Cody Thomson (Penn), Kellon Urbon (Cornell), Greg Zebrack (Penn)
April 17 – Alex Black (Columbia), Cale Hanson (Yale), Kyle Hunter (Dartmouth), Pat Ludwig (Yale), Pat Lowery (Columbia), Chris O'Dowd (Dartmouth), Cody Slaughter (Brown), Blake Thomsen (Princeton), David Toups (Yale), Vince Voiro (Penn), Greg Zebrack (Penn)
NOTES
Double-Headers
The League continues its inter-divisional action this coming weekend, as Dartmouth will host Yale, Harvard will take on Brown, Penn will face Cornell and Columbia will square off against Princeton.
The League's non-conference slate will see Cornell play a double-dip with Siena on April 17, while Yale will host Sacred Heart and Penn will play crosstown foe St. Joseph's at Citizens Bank Park. On April 18, the battle for NYC will commence as Columbia travels across town to play two against Manhattan, while Brown plays a DH against Holy Cross. Dartmouth Harvard faces UMass in the Beanpot Championship second round and Princeton travels to face Big East foe St. John's.
Madness
College Sports Madness also picks an Ivy League Baseball Player of the Week. Cornell senior Brian Billigen has received the award twice (March 5, March 12), while Princeton's Sam Mulroy (March 19), Penn's Vince Voiro (March 26), Penn's Greg Zebrack (April 2), Cornell's Connor Kaufmann (April 9) and Dartmouth's Chris O'Dowd (April 16) have each been named once.
Ivy League Championship Series
The 2012 Ivy League Championship series will be the 20th in League history. Beginning in 1993, the Ivy League champion, and NCAA Championship automatic qualifier, was determined by a three-game series played between the winners of the Rolfe and Gehrig Divisions.
All eight Ivy teams have won at least one League title since 1993. Princeton (seven) and Harvard (four) have combined to win 11 of the 19 Championship Series. Princeton is looking to become the first repeat Champion since it accomplished the feat in 2003-2004.
Championship Series Standings
| Team |
App. |
W-L |
Pct. |
First App. |
Last App. |
Titles (Last) |
| Brown |
1 |
2-0 |
1.000 |
2007 |
2007 |
1 (2007) |
| Columbia |
3 |
3-5 |
0.375 |
1993 |
2010 |
1 (2008) |
| Cornell |
2 |
1-4 |
0.200 |
2005 |
2009 |
1 (2009) |
| Dartmouth |
7 |
7-12 |
0.368 |
2000 |
2011 |
2 (2010) |
| Harvard |
8 |
10-8 |
0.556 |
1996 |
2006 |
4 (2005) |
| Penn |
3 |
3-4 |
0.429 |
1994 |
2007 |
1 (1995) |
| Princeton |
11 |
15-13 |
0.536 |
1996 |
2011 |
7 (2011) |
| Yale |
2 |
4-1 |
0.800 |
1993 |
1994 |
2 (1994 |
Gone Streaking
Hitting
| Player |
Team |
Streak |
| Jon Eisen |
Columbia |
18 |
| Brian Billigen |
Cornell |
16 |
| Marshall Yanzick |
Cornell |
14 |
*-Current (as of April 15)
Reached Base
| Player |
Team |
Streak |
| Cale Hanson |
Yale |
33* |
| Dario Pizzano |
Columbia |
23 |
| Jon Eisen |
Columbia |
18 |
| Greg Zebrack |
Penn |
17* |
| Brian Billigen |
Cornell |
16 |
| Chris Cruz |
Cornell |
16 |
| Matt DeRenzi |
Brown |
15* |
| Cale Hanson |
Yale |
15 |
*-Current (as of April 15)
National Rankings (as of April 15)
Team
| Category |
Team |
Rank |
Actual |
| Triples Per Game |
Penn |
18 |
0.45 |
|
Cornell |
25 |
0.42 |
| Triples |
Cornell |
27 |
14.0 |
|
Penn |
27 |
14.0 |
| Home Runs Per Game |
Princeton |
37 |
0.76 |
| Slugging Percentage |
Cornell |
35 |
0.44 |
| Walks Allowed Per Nine Innings |
Dartmouth |
14 |
2.56 |
| Double Plays Per Game |
Columbia |
16 |
1.03 |
| Double Plays |
Columbia |
30 |
34.0 |
| Win-Lost Percentage |
Cornell |
17 |
0.742 |
Individual
| Category |
Name |
Team |
Rank |
Actual |
| Batting Average |
Brian Billigen |
Cornell |
20 |
0.409 |
| Runs Per Game |
Greg Zebrack |
Penn |
38 |
1.07 |
| Doubles Per Game |
Greg Zebrack |
Penn |
2 |
0.53 |
|
Joe Sclafani |
Dartmouth |
32 |
0.41 |
|
Nick Ferraresi |
Columbia |
35 |
0.41 |
| Doubles |
Greg Zebrack |
Penn |
7 |
16.0 |
| Home Runs Per Game |
Chris Cruz |
Cornell |
12 |
0.33 |
| Home Runs |
Chris Cruz |
Cornell |
11 |
11.0 |
| Slugging Percentage |
Greg Zebrack |
Penn |
7 |
0.766 |
|
Brian Billigen |
Cornell |
28 |
0.664 |
|
Chris Cruz |
Cornell |
32 |
0.659 |
| Toughest To Strike Out |
Matt Bowman |
Princeton |
37 |
16.2 |
|
Ryan Brenner |
Yale |
39 |
16.0 |
| Sacrifice Bunts Per Game |
David Toups |
Yale |
23 |
0.32 |
| Sacrifice Bunts |
David Toups |
Yale |
14 |
11.0 |
| Sacrifice Flies |
Mike Ford |
Princeton |
24 |
5.0 |
|
Greg Zebrack |
Penn |
24 |
5.0 |
| Walks Allowed Per Nine Innings |
Brian McAfee |
Cornell |
23 |
1.05 |
| Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio |
Brian McAfee |
Cornell |
23 |
6.4 |
| Complete Games |
Vince Voiro |
Penn |
7 |
4.0 |
|
Mike Ford |
Princeton |
17 |
3.0 |
| |
Mitch Horacek |
Dartmouth |
17 |
3.0 |
|
Brent Jones |
Cornell |
17 |
3.0 |