SHREVEPORT, La. - The honors keep rolling in for Centenary baseball (6-1). For all games in the season thus far, senior Michael Schimpf and junior Kaleb Kirk were named to the inagural D3Baseball.com Team of the Week in 2017 as an outfielder and pitcher, respectively.
"Kaleb and Michael continue to lead and pace this team," said head coach Mike Diaz. "Their individual recognitions are great, but it's their dedication to the team is what makes them special."
This is the second-consecutive day Kirk has received recognition, as he was named the second Southern College Pitcher of the Week on Monday. In his most recent outing against the 2016 NCAA Division III Home Run Champions, Kirk held East Texas Baptist to four hits in eight innings of work. He struck out 10 in the contest, allowing no Tigers past second base.
For the season in 18 innings of work, Kirk has allowed only seven hits and no earned runs. He leads the SCAC with 18 strikeouts, sits second in opponent's batting average (.149), and is third in strikeouts per nine innings (12.46).
Last year's SCAC batting champion, Schimpf sits second in the conference - behind freshman teammate Cody Crowder - with a .481 batting average (14 or more at-bats). He also headlines the SCAC through seven games with an .852 slugging percentage and 12 runs scored.
Schimpf has recorded a hit in all seven games this season, scoring a run in the past six. In the second game of a doubleheader at Redlands Saturday, February 4, Schimpf hit for the cycle in the Gents 9-4 win. With the Gents clinging to a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth, he hit a three-run home run to bust the game open.
He completed the cycle with a bunt single in the eighth.
In the six-year history of the award, three-different Gents have received this honor four times. Former Centenary pitcher Holden Novak won the award in both week one and week five last season. Schimpf becomes the first Gent position player to receive this honor.
Centenary baseball returns to action Friday night in the first game of the Clements Fluid Classic. The Gents battle LeTourneau in Longview, Texas, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
