Warriors sweep conference Player of the Week honors

March 10, 2008

Junior Jason Braun (above) and freshman Nate Hiebert (below) were named conference Pitcher and Player of the Week respectively after helping lead the Warriors to three wins last week. (Photos courtesy of Mike Howden, Corban photographer)

PORTLAND, Ore. – Junior Jason Braun (Dallas, Ore.) and freshman Nate Hiebert (Lebanon, Ore.) earned the conference Pitcher and Player of the Week honors respectively after helping lead Corban's baseball team to a 3-1 record this past week, as announced Monday by the conference office.

Braun, a third-year player out of Dallas High School, combined to throw eight innings this past week, including a complete game two-hit shutout in the Warriors' 2-0 victory over Oregon Tech in the first of two games on Saturday. The right-hander got the Hustlin' Owls to record 15 outs via the ground ball, while a mere two OIT players got the ball out of the infield.

Along with his mastery against Oregon Tech, Braun also made an appearance against NCAA Division III member Pacific on Tuesday. Against the Boxers, Braun pitched one inning allowing a pair of unearned runs on three hits.

In two games last week, Braun combined for eight innings of works allowing two runs (both unearned) on five hits to go along with a team-high eight strikeouts.

Hiebert, a first-year player out of Lebanon High School, led the Warrior's offensive attack last week, as he went a combined 9-for-15 at the plate with a pair of runs scored and two RBI.

The utility infielder turned in performances of 3-for-4 against Pacific, 3-for-5 in Corban's extra inning loss to Oregon Tech, a perfect 1-for-1 in Corban's doubleheader opening victory over OIT, and 2-for-5 in the Warriors' extra inning win on Saturday over the Owls.

Besides his performances at the plate, Hiebert made an appearance on the mound Tuesday against Pacific. The right-hander pitched a perfect seventh inning, as Hiebert got the Boxers in order 1-2-3 in his lone appearance on the hill this past week.

This is the first conference honor for the Warriors since former Warrior Scott Fitchett (2003-07) took home the Pitcher of the Week honor on May 3, 2006.

Corban's baseball team is currently 4-7 overall, 2-3 in NAIA Region I play. The Warriors will battle the NAIA's No. 1-ranked Lewis-Clark State in a three-game series this weekend, March 15th & 16th, at home on Warrior Field. The weekend series will begin with a single nine-inning game scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday.

To view the complete list of conference Pitchers and Players of the Week, visit www.cascadeconference.org.