April 17, 2006

BEVERLY, MA - The Endicott College baseball team just wrapped up its toughest stretch of the year, playing nine games in six days. When the dust settled at the trip's conclusion, the Gulls were 6-3 and sitting in first place in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Junior outfielder Joe Orlando (Gloucester, MA/Gloucester) and junior pitcher Erik Fields (Swampscott, MA/Swampscott) were catalysts for the Gulls (16-14, 13-3 CCC) and the CCC recognized just how much the two players did for their club.

The honored the two players in its Week 5 Report, naming Orlando the CCC Player of the Week and bestowing CCC Pitcher of the Week honors on Fields. Last week, senior Matt Bishop (Woburn, MA/Woburn) was named the Player of the Week and junior Ian Parkinson (Peabody, MA/Peabody) captured Pitcher of the Week honors.

Orlando shared his honor with Wentworth's Matt Moyen after hitting .550 (22-for-40) with four doubles, three homers, two stolen bases, 10 runs scored and 11 RBI for the Gulls. Orlando was 19-for-35 (.543) in eight conference games, rapping four doubles, three homers and 11 RBI.

Orlando raised his average by over .100 points during last week's incredible run. He came into last week hitting .245 but now leads the club with a .376 average and is third on the team with 17 RBI.

Fields was equally impressive, firing a pair of complete-game victories for the Gulls. The dominant right-handed starter allowed 10 hits, walked two and fanned nine batters while recording a 1.29 ERA. Fields was the winning pitcher in a 2-0 shutout win over conference rival Gordon College.

Overall, Fields is 3-2 with a 4.94 ERA in 31 innings pitched, allowing 30 hits and 17 earned runs. Fields is third on the club with 19 strikeouts and opponents are hitting just .261 against him.

Fields was also a factor at the plate, hitting .412 with two triples, three stolen bases and 11 RBI.