Rhein, Meisenbach and Aronson Named CCIW Baseball Players of the Week

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Tom Rhein of Elmhurst and Jake Meisenbach of Augustana were named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Co-Hitters of the Week Tuesday, while Illinois Wesleyan’s Matt Aronson earned Pitcher of the Week honors after their performances during the previous week of competition.

Rhein, a junior outfielder from Worth, Ill., and Brother Rice High School, had an impressive week at the plate for the Bluejays. For the week, Rhein hit .500 (11-of-22) while blasting five home runs and driving in 17 runs. He also scored eight runs and posted a 1.182 slugging percentage. He drew five walks and struck out only once. He hit a pair of three-run home runs in the Bluejays’ 14-13 loss to Ozarks on Wednesday, March 21, and smashed another three-run home run in Elmhurst’s 9-8 win over Clarke on Sunday, March 25. He capped the week by blasting two home runs (a three-run shot and a grand slam) in the same inning in the Bluejays’ 14-11 loss to Maryville on March 25.

Meisenbach, a senior catcher from Rock Island, Ill., batted .500 as 16th-ranked Augustana won a pair of games last week, beating Monmouth 12-3 on Wednesday, March 21 and winning against 22nd-ranked Aurora 10-8 on Sunday, March 25. In the two games combined, Meisenbach went four-for-eight with four runs scored, four RBI, two doubles and a home run. Twice he was hit by a pitch. He also cut down the only runner who attempted to steal off of him. Against Monmouth he was two-for-three with three runs scored, while against Aurora he was two-for-five with four RBI, a double and a home run.

Aronson, a sophomore pitcher from LaGrange, Ill., and St. Ignatius High School, went 2-0 and didn’t allow a run in 12 innings in helping Illinois Wesleyan go 4-3 on its southern trip. He struck out 13, allowed six hits and opponents batted only .146 against him. He pitched seven innings as the Titans beat Mississippi College, 18-0 on Monday, March 19, and tossed five innings as Illinois Wesleyan beat Clarke, 21-0 on Saturday, March 24.

2007 CCIW Baseball Players of the Week

Hitter of the Week
Tom Rhein - Elmhurst & Jake Meisenbach - Augustana (3/27/07)
Marc Blakeley - Augustana (3/20/07)
Brian Kolb - Wheaton (3/13/07)

Pitcher of the Week
Matt Aronson - Illinois Wesleyan (3/27/07)
Andy Sherwood - North Park (3/20/07)
Jacob Husing - Carthage (3/13/07)