The NESCAC has released its Players of the Week for the week ending on March 15. The conference recognizes student-athletes in each sport each week for their contributions to their teams, based on information provided by the athletic communications offices on each campus. During the spring season, baseball, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, and softball players of the week will be announced on Mondays. On select Tuesdays, track & field performers of the week will be announced.
NESCAC Baseball Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Henry Ayers – Middlebury – Fy. – C – West Caldwell, N.J.
Ayers went 12-for-13 over three contests in a 3-0 week for the Panthers. The rookie opened the week with four hits and two runs scored as Middlebury defeated Norwich, 11-3. Ayers followed up with a 5-for-5 day that included three doubles to help the Panthers slide to a 6-5 victory over Keene State. The catcher closed the three-game slate with three hits, one run scored, and an RBI as Middlebury blanked VTSU Castleton, 7-0. Ayers leads Middlebury in multiple offensive categories, including hits (17), runs (10), and doubles (4).
NESCAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Shamus Kelly – Wesleyan – So. – Waltham, Mass.
Kelly went the distance, tossing a complete game shutout in a 4-0 win over Penn State Abington, snapping the Nittany Lions’ nine-game win streak. It was Kelly's first career complete game, first career shutout, and first career win as the sophomore allowed six hits and no walks with five strikeouts.
NESCAC Softball Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Anika Ewert – Bowdoin – Sr. – OF – Newport Coast, Calif.
Ewert batted .636 with a .678 on-base percentage, leading the Polar Bears to eight straight wins in Florida as the team is off to its best start since the 2007 season. In addition to collecting 21 hits in the eight games, Ewert scored 18 runs, had eight RBI, and went a perfect 17-17 in stolen bases.
NESCAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Emily Dowd – Middlebury – Fy. – Fairfield, Conn.
In Game 2 versus St. Lawrence, Dowd went the distance, giving up just one run on four hits while striking out seven in a 6-1 victory. The complete game is the first of Dowd’s collegiate career.
NESCAC Men's Lacrosse Player of the Week | Weekly Releae
Casey Ryan – Bowdoin – Jr. – A – San Diego, Calif.
Ryan scored 10 goals and posted eight assists in a pair of Polar Bears wins as the team remained unbeaten this spring. The junior scored a season-best seven goals with three assists in a comeback win at Endicott to hand the Gulls their first loss of the season before sparking a second-half outburst with three goals and five assists in a conference win over Williams. For the week, Ryan had a hand in 18 of Bowdoin's 33 goals and leads the conference at 7.25 points per game this spring.
NESCAC Women’s Lacrosse Co-Players of the Week | Weekly Release
Caroline Adams – Middlebury – Sr. – A – Norwich, Vt.
Adams was the sparkplug for Middlebury as the Panthers defeated a pair of ranked opponents. The senior totaled 13 points on seven goals and six assists while winning 14 draws. Adams opened the slate with a career-high eight points (3G, 5A) in a 10-4 win over No. 24 Trinity and added eight draw controls. At No. 10 Franklin and Marshall, Adams scored four times, had one assist, and six draws in a 16-2 victory. Adams is Middlebury’s leader in points (27) and assists (11).
Lindsey Diomede – Wesleyan – Sr. – M – Westwood, Mass.
Diomede helped the No. 2-ranked Cardinals post a 2-0 record with a pair of wins over ranked opponents, where Wesleyan allowed just nine combined goals. For the week Diomede totaled 10 caused turnovers, six ground balls, and six draw controls. The senior recorded four draw controls, four caused turnovers, four ground balls, and one assist in a 12-5 road win over No. 16 Stevens. Against Colby, Diomede added six caused turnovers, two ground balls, and two draw controls, helping lift Wesleyan to a 10-4 win over the Mules. The win marked the first time the Cardinals have beaten Colby since 2019. Wesleyan's defense totaled 21 caused turnovers, a school single-game record against a NESCAC opponent.
