Perez named RRAC Player of the Week

WACO – Hal Perez found his groove last week.

The junior catcher hit .667 with seven RBIs and four doubles in four games last week to help the UHV baseball team, which is receiving votes in the national poll, win its series against Huston-Tillotson.

On Monday, the Red River Athletic Conference named him the Player of the Week for the week of April 1-7. This is the third weekly honor for a UHV baseball player and first Player of the Week honor with Mason Longoria earning two Pitcher of the Week honors this season.

"I'm very happy to be recognized by the conference, but I couldn't be successful without my teammates," Perez said. "So many guys were able to step up for us last week. I was just lucky enough to follow their lead. We want to keep pushing like this to set us up in the best possible spot to defend our conference tournament championship."

Perez notched a career-high four hits during the Jaguars (26-11, 14-7) 17-1 rout of the Rams in Game 3 of their RRAC series on Saturday. The Camuy, Puerto Rico, native has hit safely in his last six games, batting .565 with 12 RBIs and a home run in that time. His 35 RBIs this season ranks fifth in the RRAC.

Behind the plate, Perez has cut down 16 would-be base stealers, the fifth most in the country.

"It's good to see Hal get the recognition for his play this week," said UHV head coach Jonathan Stavinoha. "He was seeing the ball really well and took some steps in the right direction with his approach and it really paid off.  Excited to see him keep that up throughout the last few weeks of the regular season."

With the series win over Huston-Tillotson, and Louisiana Christian dropping all three games to No. 2-LSU Shreveport over the weekend, UHV currently sits tied for second with the Wildcats (24-11, 14-7) heading into the final three weeks of the season.

The Jaguars face Southwestern Assemblies of God Wednesday before traveling to Jarvis Christian Friday and Saturday. UHV and Louisiana Christian square off April 19-20.