April 23, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Jeff Sonnenberg of Madonna (Mich.) University has been selected as the NAIA Baseball Pitcher of the Week while Calvin O'Rear of McKendree (Ill.) University was awarded the NAIA Baseball Player of the Week for April 14-20.

Sonnenberg, a 6-0 junior from Lansing, Mich., went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two appearances last week. In his first outing, 5.2 innings of relief work against Indiana Tech, Sonnenberg allowed just three hits while fanning five in the 9-6 win.  With his team trailing 6-5 in the second inning, Jeff mowed down Indiana Tech to record the final two outs and pitched shutout ball the rest of the way. Against Aquinas (Mich.) last Saturday, Jeff recorded a no-hitter in the 4-0 victory. He struck out nine batters and gave up just two base runners.

O'Rear, a 6-4 junior 1B from DuBois, Ill., accomplished two school feats by tying the single-game and single-season Bearcat home run record. O'Rear smashed three home runs in the 11-1 win over Williams Baptist (Mo.), which tied the school best. Two games later in the series finale with WBU, Calvin knocked his 20^th roundtripper of the year, tying former NAIA Player of the Year Brian Dinkelman's output.

For the week, Calvin hit .600 (12-for-20) with 17 RBI, seven home runs, 11 runs scored and a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts. He helped McKendree to a 6-0 week.

The final 2008 Players of the Week will be announced on April 30.

Other Pitcher of the Week Nominees:
Matt Fitts, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho); Kenny Houser, Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.); Kris Jiggitts,
Tennessee Wesleyan; Jaeson Hudnall, Urbana (Ohio); Mark Doll, Southern Poly (Ga.); Eric Spivey,
Cumberland (Tenn.); Tanner Vickers, Lubbock Christian (Texas); Daniel Cutler, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Vidal
Nuno, Baker (Kan.); Josh Hake, Park (Mo.); Chris Baker, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.); Jordan Roberts, Embry
Riddle (Fla.)

Other Player of the Week Nominees:
Nelson Sanchez, Bethel (Ind.); Steve Williams, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio); Dylan Lynch, Trevecca
Nazarene (Ohio); Brett Hoch, Morningside (Iowa); Sherman Ferguson, Edward Waters (Fla.); Ryne
Emerick, Ozarks (Mo.); Jesse Wise, Montreat, (N.C.); Quenton Shamsabady, LSU-Shreveport; Sean
Teaters, Oregon Tech; John West, Houston - Victoria (Texas); David West, Biola (Calif.); John O'Brien, St.
Xavier (Ill.)

2007-08 Composite Award Winners:
March 19:
Pitcher - Brian Albert, Biola (Calif.)
Player - Stevie Lewis, Southern Nazarene (Okla.)

March 26:
Pitcher - Josh Hake, Park (Mo.)
Player - Landon Camp, Oklahoma City

April 2:
Pitcher - Levi Curry, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio)
Player - Brett Hunt, Brescia (Ky.)

April 9:
Pitcher - Brent Ebinger, Lambuth (Tenn.)
Player - Kyle Greene, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)

April 16:
Pitcher - Bryan Joseph, Edward Waters College (Fla.)
Player - Julian Alvarez, Bacone College (Okla.)

April 23:
Pitcher - Jeff Sonnenberg, Madonna (Mich.)
Player - Calvin O'Rear, McKendree (Ill.)

April 30:
Pitcher -
Player -