CAA Baseball Weekly Awards – April 29: Mathis, Opanel, and Meglio Shine
Charleston junior first baseman Cole Mathis has been on fire, earning himself the CAA Baseball Player of the Week award after an impressive performance at the plate. Mathis batted an outstanding .667 with three home runs and 11 RBIs during the Cougars’ 3-1 week on the road. His standout weekend against Campbell, where he reached base in 14 of 17 plate appearances, included a career-best 5-for-7 performance with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs in a dominant 17-2 victory.
On the pitching side, Monmouth junior right-hander Kevin Opanel was named Pitcher of the Week for his stellar outing against Stony Brook. Opanel allowed just one hit over 7.0 shutout innings, striking out two and retiring the final 13 batters he faced to secure a 3-0 series-clinching win for the Hawks.
Campbell third baseman Charlie Meglio took home Rookie of the Week honors after hitting .333 with three home runs and seven RBIs in a 2-2 week for the Camels. Meglio’s standout performance included a 3-run homer in the victory over No. 6 Duke.
In conference standings, Charleston and UNCW remain tied at the top with identical 14-4 records. Northeastern is close behind at 13-5 after a sweep of Elon, while Delaware has jumped to fourth place at 11-7 after a sweep of Towson.
The CAA has been making waves in non-conference play, with 10 wins against nationally ranked opponents and 17 victories against Power 5 teams. Four CAA teams are ranked in the top 76 of the NCAA RPI, showcasing the strength of the conference.
With exciting matchups and standout performances, CAA baseball continues to deliver thrilling action on the diamond. Stay tuned for more updates as the season progresses.