LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced its fifth set of Baseball Athletes of the Week. In the East, Shippensburg's Evan Shoffler and West Chester's Caleb Strawhecker were named Co-Athletes of the Week while Aiden Murphy (Pitcher of the Week) was also selected. In the West, California's Connor Evans (Athlete) and Seton Hill's Mark Wechtenhiser (Pitcher) earned the honors.
Eastern Division Co-Athlete of the Week
Evan Shoffler
Shippensburg
Shortstop
Sophomore
Cape May, N.J. / Lower Cape May Regional
In a 3-1 weekend series over Lock Haven, Shoffler hit .688 (11-for-16) from the leadoff spot. For the week, Shoffler reached base in 14 of his 19 plate appearances (11-for-16, four extra-base hits, seven RBIs, two walks, hit-by-pitch), which equates to a .737 on-base percentage and a 1.125 slugging percentage (1.862 OPS). Shoffler also went 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts and scored 10 total runs. In a Saturday sweep in which Shippensburg scored 32 runs, Shoffler set the tone, totaling eight hits (.800 average) – highlighted by a go-ahead two-run single during the Raiders' comeback victory in Game 2 – and seven runs scored. On Sunday at Lock Haven, Shoffler got on base five times; he was 3-for-6 with a two-run double, two walks, two stolen bases and three runs scored. Shoffler has started all 18 games and is batting .435 with 10 extra-base hits and 17 RBIs so far this season.
Eastern Division Co-Athlete of the Week
Caleb Strawhecker
West Chester
Catcher
Sophomore
West Grove, Pa. / Avon Grove
Strawhecker had a week for the history books last week for West Chester as the sophomore catcher was 8-for-17 (.471) at the plate with three home runs and two doubles, along with eight runs scored and eight RBIs in a 5-0 week for the Golden Rams. Strawhecker started his week with a 4-for-5 effort with three home runs in three straight at bats for eight RBI and five runs scored in a 14-10 win over Saint Joseph’s for the Golden Rams first win over a Division I foe since 2008. The sophomore catcher tied the program record for home runs in a single game, home runs in consecutive at-bats, and single-game RBI with this effort. On the weekend against Gannon, Strawhecker reached base in all four games with four hits and three walks over the course of the series. He doubled twice and drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the series finale, while also scoring three runs to help lead the Golden Rams at the plate.
Eastern Division Pitcher of the Week
Aiden Murphy
Bloomsburg
Pitcher
Senior
Mountain Top, Pa. / Wyoming Seminary
Murphy provided two stellar performances for Bloomsburg this past week, earning two wins while pitching 13 scoreless innings. The senior allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out eight batters. Murphy opened the week by holding Penn State Berks to just one hit through the first six innings of the Huskies' 11-2 win over the Nittany Lions. Murphy pitched again on Sunday tossing a complete game shutout against No. 11 Seton Hill in Bloomsburg's 13-0 victory. The Mountain Top native struck out four while allowing just one walk. Across four appearances and 20 innings pitched, Murphy holds a 0.00 ERA and has given up just six hits. The senior is one of just three pitchers in the nation to hold a 0.00 ERA across 10-plus innings of work. Murphy has held opponents to a .095 batting average and has not allowed an extra base hit so far this season.
Western Division Athlete of the Week
Connor Evans
California
Outfielder
Senior
Hermitage, Pa. / Hickory
Evans led the team with a .435 average (10-for-23), three doubles, a triple, and a .652 slugging percentage over six games last week while in Florida. He also finished with five RBIs and six runs scored while starting every game in right field. Evans collected two hits and two RBIs on Monday in an 11-4 victory over Malone. On Tuesday, the 6-foot-7 junior recorded three hits, one RBI and three runs scored in a 15-2 run-rule win against Minnesota Duluth. Evans then posted two hits, one RBI and one run scored the following day in an 11-5 victory over Minnesota Duluth. He registered two hits, one RBI, and one run scored in a 6-5 win against Northern State on Thursday.
Western Division Pitcher of the Week
Mark Wechtenhiser
Seton Hill
Pitcher
Junior
Johnstown, Pa. / Richland
Wechtenhiser earned the win in the Griffins 1-0 victory over Bloomsburg. He went 7 scoreless innings, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 13 while walking none.