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Kyran Russ’ selection as baseball player of the week by the NJCAA in Division II gives Catawba Valley Community College award winners in back-to-back weeks for the first time in school history./CVCC PHOTO
HICKORY — For the first time in program history, the Catawba Valley Community College baseball team has back-to-back National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) weekly award winners.
Red Hawks first baseman Kyran Russ was named the NJCAA Division II Player of the Week on Wednesday — one week after CVCC’s Julian Smith was named NJCAA Div. II Pitcher of the Week.uss was first informed of his Player of the Week honor by Catawba Valley head baseball coach Paul Rozzelle during practice on Wednesday.
Russ drove in five runs, hit two home runs and had 12 total bases in three games last week, all wins over USC Union. He also led the Red Hawks with a slugging percentage of 1.714.
“I’m very proud of Kyran and the work he has put in,” Rozzelle said. “It has been a long road, but watching a young man fail, then learn, and ultimately grow is a coach’s dream.
“(CVCC assistant) coach (Colby) Dishmond has put in a lot of time with our players, and Kyran has really benefitted.”
Russ is the first position player to win NJCAA Player of the Week for CVCC since Craig Zalewa in February of 2016.
Russ and the Red Hawks (10-4) return to the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader against Louisburg College at Henkel-Alley Field at the Legion Fairgrounds in Newton. First pitch is at 1 p.m. and admission is free.
- Reported by CVCC Sports Information