JONESBORO, Ark. (7/28/09) – Arkansas State
senior catcher Kyle DeGrace and redshirt freshman pitcher Justin O'Brien both
received honors from their respective leagues this week for their play on the
diamond this summer. DeGrace was named
the Rawlings Canadian Intercounty Baseball League Player of the Week, while O'Brien
was named to the All-Star team in the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee Summer
Collegiate Baseball League.
Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, DeGrace
hit .692 with two doubles, one home run, two stolen bases, six RBI and a
sacrifice fly. DeGrace went 9-for-13 on
the week to bump his season average to .449 and take over the lead in the
league's batting race. He belted out
three hits in all three of his games played during the week and is currently
riding a seven-game hitting streak, with multiple hits in all seven games.
The KIT League leader in strikeouts per
inning at 1.57, O'Brien finished the season with 75 strikeouts in 47 and
two-thirds innings with an ERA of 2.08 while playing for the Marion
Bobcats. O'Brien will get the start when
Marion opens play tonight in the opening round of the KIT League playoffs.