Monday, May 12, 2003

Valparaiso University's Tom Starck was selected as the Mid-Continent Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second time in three weeks after an impressive performance in a 4-2 win over Southern Utah last Friday.

A junior lefthander from Kenosha, Wis./St. Joseph's, Starck tied a career-high with 12 strikeouts in the 9-inning, complete-game win. He allowed just four hits and two walks. Starck fanned six of the first nine batters he faced and worked out of a jam in the ninth inning. He is 2-0 with a 1.48 ERA in league play and has struck out 39 in 30 1/3 innings. Starck improved his overall record to 3-1 and lowered his ERA to 3.09, which ranks third in the Mid-Con.

Starck's honor marks the third time this season that a Crusader has earned Mid-Con Pitcher of the Week recognition as senior Todd Evans and Starck were selected during consecutive weeks in April.