AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Games: February 23 - March 1, 2026
 
HITTER OF THE WEEK – John Garza, Sr., INF, Howard Payne
John Garza helped Howard Payne to a 3-1 record last week with an impressive performance at the plate. He finished the week batting .632 with 12 hits, seven RBI, and five runs scored.

In a 19-11 win at McMurry, Garza went 3-for-4 (.750) and drew two walks. During the Yellow Jackets’ series against Southwestern (Tex.), he remained a steady offensive threat, hitting .600 for the series and driving in a week-high four RBI in the final game, a narrow 13-12 victory for HPU.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Luke Watkins, Jr., P, Howard Payne
Luke Watkins delivered a strong outing on the mound in a 17-11 win over Southwestern (Tex.). Facing 23 batters, Watkins struck out 11 and held opponents to a .200 batting average. Over 5.0 innings pitched, he issued just two walks and finished with a 1.80 ERA. His performance helped set the tone for the series, as HPU went on to claim the series 2-1.

OTHER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES

HITTERS
Jacob Hollingsworth (Hardin-Simmons) went 9-for-18 over four games for the Cowboys, scoring six runs. He also drove in two runs in a close 7-6 loss at North Park.

Jobee Boone (East Texas Baptist) hit .353 across four games, recording seven RBI — at least one in each contest. In a 16-10 victory over LeTourneau, Boone delivered a two-run double to give the Tigers a 7-3 lead and later added a sixth-inning home run to cap an impressive performance.

PITCHERS
Jack Kimsey (Hardin-Simmons) turned in a standout performance in a narrow 7-6 loss at North Park. He pitched seven innings, allowed just one run, and struck out seven batters. Kimsey exited the game with a 5-1 Cowboy lead.

Isaac Thorton (East Texas Baptist) appeared in a 10-6 win over Huntingdon, pitching eight innings with four strikeouts. He retired 10 consecutive batters from the fourth through the seventh innings to help secure the victory.