RAILCATS Sweep Northern league weekly awards

July 17, 2007                                     Contact:  Tom Nichols at (219) 882-2255

Gary, Ind.—The Northern League of Professional Baseball announced its weekly awards today and the Gary SouthShore RailCats were awarded honors in both categories.  RailCats catcher Jose Yepez (pronounced YEP-ez) was named Player of the Week while RailCats hurler Josh Habel (HOBB-el) was named Pitcher of the Week. 

Yepez, who was also the starting catcher for the South Division in the All-Star Game, batted .545 (6-for-11) with four RBI, one home run, and five runs scored for the all-star break shortened week. Yepez, who also went 1-for-3 in the all-star game that was played Tuesday night, currently ranks 10th in the league in batting (.327). He also sits fifth in the league in on-base percentage (.425). On the week, Yepez worked a .706 on-base percentage and 1.091 slugging percentage.

Habel, who leads the league with nine wins, picked up his seventh win in his last seven starts Sunday versus the Joliet JackHammers. It was his only appearance of the week, as he hurled 7.2 innings allowing only one unearned run while striking out four and walking none. It marked the second straight start where he did not allow an earned run.

Habel, a 6-1, 190-pound left-hander, started the season losing three of his first five starts, but has turned it around going 7-0 with a 2.28 ERA since June 5th. He is currently on a league-high seven game winning streak and is tied with RailCats teammate Willie Glen, who has also won seven in a row. In addition to leading the league in wins (9), he also ranks third in ERA (3.70) and pitched for the South Division in the all-star game.

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The Northern League Player and Pitcher of the Week are sponsored all season long by PA-SportsTicker, the Official Statistic and Information Company for the Northern League.