SLIAC Announces First Diamond Sports Players of the Week for 2011 Season

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) has announced the first Diamond Sports baseball players of the week for the 2011 season.

BASEBALL - PITCHER
Principia College's Greg Ball, a junior from Orlando, Fla. (Edgewater), has been named the Diamond Sports SLIAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the week of February 21-27.

Ball, a 6-5 right-handed hurler, picked up a win in the Panthers first game of the season against Rust College. In six innings on the mound he struck out six batters, allowed only three hits and one earned run, while giving up no walks.

Principia defeated Rust 10-2 in the first game of the season. The Panthers went on to sweep Rust in the double header, sliding by with a 7-6 victory in game two.

BASEBALL - HITTER
Spalding University's Derek Ferch, a freshman from Louisville, Ky. (St. Xavier), has been named the Diamond Sports SLIAC Hitter of the Week for the week of February 21-27.

Ferch, a 6-0 shortstop, collected five hits and four RBI in nine at-bats, as Spalding went 1-1 in their season opening double header at Sewanee. Ferch was 3-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and one triple in an 11-10 loss in game one. He added two hits, two RBI and two runs scored in game two, as the Golden Eagles came away with a 9-5 victory. Ferch also added three putouts and two assists in the win.