Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Fifth-year senior infielder Joylyn Ichiyama (Torrance, Calif./Redondo Union) has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week, while freshman pitcher Sierra Pico (North Las Vegas, Nev./Legacy) earned Pitcher of the Week accolades following Valparaiso’s opening weekend of the 2013 season.

Ichiyama hit .444 with four runs scored and a pair of RBIs over Valpo’s three games in the opening weekend of play.  The Crusader third baseman opened the year by scoring three runs in the run-rule victory over Jackson State, while going 1-for-2 and driving in a run.  In the Crusader win over Central Arkansas, Ichiyama went 3-for-4, scoring a run and tallying an RBI single during Valpo’s big six-run fifth inning.

Pico earned the weekly honor following her first collegiate start.  The freshman got the call in the circle in the season opener against Jackson State, carrying a shutout into the fifth inning of the run-rule shortened 11-2 win.  Pico scattered five hits in her five innings and also struck out a pair of batters in her debut.