COBLESKILL’S AKER NAMED REGION III MALE-ATHLETE-OF-THE-WEEK

Senior Matt Aker, Nelliston, NY, Fort Plain High School, a member of SUNY Cobleskill’s the men’s baseball team, has been named the NJCAA Region III Male Athlete-of-the-Week by the region’s service bureau.

The crafty left handed pitcher propelled the Fighting Tigers to the 2006 NJCAA Region III Play-offs posting three victories during the Cobleskill stretch drive towards the post season. Aker pitched two complete game victories during the seven day span defeating Morrisville State College on the road by a 7-2 margin striking out four and walking two while allowing the Mustangs only four hits in the contest then came back to shut-out visiting Clinton Community College 12-0 allowing the Cougars only four hits while striking out two and walking one. Over his last 16 innings worked the veteran southpaw allowed only two earned runs to the opposition.

The 2006 season saw Cobleskill tie the program record for most wins in a season with 18 and make their first regional tournament appearance since the 1995 season; which was the last time the Fighting Tigers recorded, a winning season. Additionally the Fighting Tigers posted the best NJCAA Region III Division III record in school history with a 15-6 season and the best Mountain Valley Conference program mark at 12-4.