Richard Anderson (l) and Will DiFede (r) both had incredible weeks.
The City University of New York Athletic Conference has named a pair of Dolphins to its list of weekly award winners. Sophomore Will DiFede, the reigning CUNYAC Rookie of the Year took home the conference’s Player of the Week honor, while senior hurler Richard Anderson was named Pitcher of the Week. The citations are the final ones released by the CUNYAC leading into the postseason championship tournament which begins next week.
The Dolphins went 2-2 last week, but had arguably the conference’s most impressive win of the year when the Dolphins toppled #4 Salisbury University, 4-2, in Maryland on Saturday. The Dolphins added a 15-3 winner over John Jay College on Sunday as part of Senior Day as well.
DiFede was exceptional the entire way. The slugging outfielder hit safely in three of the four games. In the win over Salisbury he was one of the prime catalysts in the win, going 3-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI and two runs scored. He also notched a double in the game and stole a base. In CSI’s win on Sunday, DiFede was a power at the plate, posting four singles in a 4-6 performance with a heavy six RBI and another stolen bag. For the week the sophomore batted .471 with eight RBI.
For the season, DiFede has avoided the sophomore slump. He is batting a healthy .360, and leading the team with 42 RBI which is now tied for the 5th highest in CSI single season history. He is also fourth on the squad with 28 runs scored and third with 15 stolen bases in 19 attempts.
Anderson only had one appearance on the hill, but it was a big one. The senior was the winner in CSI’s win over the Seagulls. The right-hander went all eight innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits, fanning five while only walking two. On Senior Day, Anderson got in as a designated hitter to the delight of the crowd, and he calmly stroked an RBI-double before being replaced on the base paths. It was a fitting end to a tremendous weekend.
As expected coming into 2013, Anderson is leading the squad in almost every major pitching category this season. He has logged 64 innings and his 7-2 record is one win away from tying the CSI single season record for most in a season. He boasts a 2.53 ERA, and his seven complete games have tied a CSI record, last accomplished by Kevin Crombie in 1991. Displaying great control, Anderson has recorded 48 strikeouts this season next to just six walks.
CSI will officially close their regular season on May 1, when they host Farmingdale State for a lone contest at 7pm at the Tomas D. Morales Baseball Field. After that, CSI will bear the CUNYAC’s top seed in the upcoming double-elimination postseason tournament that will begin at MCU Ballpark in Brooklyn on Monday, May 6. Who the Dolphins will draw in the first round has yet to be determined.
