SXU's Simecek, SAU's Guzman Claim Baseball Weekly Honors

CHICAGO --- A .615 batting average by Saint Xavier University's John Simecek (Twinsburg, Ohio) and a nine-strikeout performance from St. Ambrose University's Dominic Guzman (Crystal Lake, Ill.) have earned the pair Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week accord, respectively, the league office announced on Tuesday.

Simecek turned in three multi-hit games among the four that he appeared in during the week ending Feb. 15.  Included were a pair of three-hit contests leading to eight hits overall in 13 at-bats.  He also scored nine times, drove in another three runs and stole seven bases.

Defensively, the junior infielder made 24 putouts and one assist without error.

Simecek's pair of three-hit games came on Friday and Sunday versus University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (Mo.).  In both contests, he was a perfect 3-for-3 with a combined five stolen bases.  He also drove in three runs in the latter affair, where he collected one double and a triple.

His two-hit contest came in the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday, where he went 5-for-6 on the day with six runs scored.   

Saint Xavier went a perfect 4-0 on the week to extend its winning streak to six games.  The Cougars are 7-5 overall.

Guzman's recognition came on the mound, where the senior went the first six innings in a 6-1 win over McPherson College (Kan.).  He allowed only four hits in the contest, while walking three batters against the nine strikeouts.

St. Ambrose is 3-4 on the season following its 2-1 week.

Other Player Nominees: Josiah Nelson (Indiana South Bend), Xavier Gilmore (Viterbo), Nate Maliska (St. Francis), Alex Seaton (Olivet Nazarene), Alex Wickett (Judson).

Other Pitcher Nominees: Trent Markezich (Saint Xavier), Josh McCormick (Indiana South Bend), Alijah Acevedo (Judson).