Baseball

United East Athletes of the Week - February 24, 2025

LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for February 17, 2025.  Today will include Players of the Week for men’s lacrosse, men’s volleyball and is the first weekly accolades for both women's lacrosse and baseball.

This week’s selections included contests from Monday, February 17 through Sunday, February 23, 2025. A total of 8 student athletes were recognized for their performances.

  • Defensive Player of the Week

    Demetrius Simmons / JR / Wilson College / Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg

    Simmons had a monster week up front as he totaled 13 blocks in four matches. Seven of those came against an impressive Randolph squad with two in each of the others as Wilson went 2-2. He wasn't bad on the offensive side either with 18 total kills, eight of which were also against Randolph.

    This is the first career Player of the Week award for Simmons.

    Offensive Player of the Week

    Trey Edmonds / So / Neumann University / Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley

    Trey Edmonds tallied 45 kills and a .344 hitting percentage in a 3-0 week for Neumann. In a 3-0 win over Hood to start the week, the sophomore had 13 kills, a .345 hitting percentage and eight digs. He followed with 12 kills in a 3-0 win over Valley Forge. To wrap up the win, Edmonds notched 20 kills and a .405 hitting percentage in a 3-1 win at Cairn. 

    This is the second Player of the Week award for Edmonds this season, who previously earned the nod on February 3, 2025. 

  • Offensive Player of the Week

    Elliot Dotson / FR / Penn College / Wilmington, Del. / Salesianum

    Dotson scored his first career hat-trick with three of the Wildcats first five goals against Montclair State on Saturday. He finished the game with a team-high seven points (4g, 3a) and scooped up five ground balls.

    This is the first career Player of the Week award for Dotson.

    Defensive Player of the Week

    Jeremy Heath / Sr / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Chester, Md. / Kent Island

    Jeremy Heath notched season-bests of three ground balls and two caused turnovers in St. Mary's College's 11-10 road win over Randolph-Macon, snapping a two-game skid against the Yellow Jackets. Heath scooped up a key ground ball with six seconds left in the game to effectively kill R-MC's comeback attempt.

    This is Heath's first Player of the Week award this season and second of his career (April 1, 2024)

  • Offensive Player of the Week

    Hailey Betch / SR / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Severna Park, Md. / Severna Park

    Hailey Betch grabbed five draw controls while adding two goals and an assist in a 15-14 overtime road loss to Shenandoah, who received votes in the IWLCA Division III Preseason Coaches Poll. Betch then collected a game- and season-best six draw controls plus one caused turnover while leading SMCM with four goals and an assist in the team's 11-9 home-opening loss to No. 15 Christopher Newport.

    This is the first Player of the Week award for Betch this season and her third in her career (4/15/24  |  2/26/24)

    Defensive Player of the Week

    Colin Horton / SR / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / University Park, Md. / Elizabeth Seton

    Colin Horton began her senior campaign by matching her career-highs in goals and points with six on both counts and collecting three draw controls plus a caused turnover and a ground ball in a tough 15-14 overtime road loss to Shenandoah, who received votes in the first IWLCA Division III Coaches Preseason Poll. She then notched three goals and a Seahawk- and game-best two caused turnovers plus three draw controls and a ground ball in an 11-9 home-opening loss to No. 15 Christopher Newport.

    This is Horton's first Player of the Week award this season and fourth of her career (3/14/22  |  3/6/23  |  03/04/24)

  • Player of the Week

    Brendan Henn / SR / Penn State Harrisburg / Matamoras, Pa. / Delaware Valley

    Brendan Henn had a monster start to the 2025 campaign, slashing .571/.625/1.143 with a 1.768 OPS in three victories across Penn State Harrisburg's opening weekend. The senior had four hits, including a two-run home run and an RBI double in a season-opening sweep of UMass Dartmouth and followed it up by going 4-for-5 with a pair of triples, four RBIs and three runs scored in a win over Stevenson the next day. Across three games, Henn racked up eight hits and 16 total bases thanks to a home run, two triples and a double. He drove in seven runs and scored five more, adding two walks and a stolen base. 

    This is the first Player of the Week award for Henn this season and his fourth in his career (2/26/24 | 4/8/24 | 4/22/24)

    Pitcher of the Week

    Bradyn Eckert / FR / Penn State Harrisburg / Lancaster, Pa. / Penn Manor

    Bradyn Eckert had a memorable collegiate debut, earning the first win of his career in his first outing which came during a 9-8, 11-inning victory over UMass Dartmouth on Saturday night. The freshman threw the final three frames, struck out eight batters and did not allow a run. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth, struck out the side in the 10th and stranded a runner in scoring position in the 11th, allowing the Lions to secure the walk-off win the final half inning.

    This is Eckert's first Player of the Week award of his career.

 

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram - gounitedeast  |  Twitter - @GoUnitedEast

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.