Sophomore Tony Salato (Knoxville, IA/Knoxville) has been named the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Division I Player of the Week after leading the Tigers to a 3-1 weekend at Motlow State Community College.
Salato posted a .500 batting average, going 7-14 at the plate to carry MCC to three wins over the Bucks. In the weekend series, Salato totaled four extra base hits, six RBI, and six runs scored and ranks in the top two in each category for the 5-3 Tigers.
In Friday's game one victory, Salato went 3-4 with three runs and three RBI, but his timely hitting was the biggest factor for the Tigers. Salato delivered a leadoff solo home run, his first of the season, to spark a sixth inning rally. Salato's two-run double in the seventh tied the game and the sophomore came around to score for the eventual game-winning run as MCC rallied for a 6-5 victory. Salato went 2-4 with three more runs and an RBI in game two on Friday as MCC rolled to a 13-0 victory.
The Tigers dropped Saturday's opener 11-1, but Salato proved to be the game changer in the series finale. Trailing 6-5 in the final at frame, Salato ripped a two-run double, his seventh hit of the weekend, to lift MCC over the Bucks and win the series.
Through eight games this year, Salato is batting .423 with a .654 slugging percentage and 10 RBI.
Salato becomes the second Tiger to win the ICCAC weekly honor after sophomore Luis Duran (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Centro de Estudio Espaillat) earned the award last week.
The Tigers return to action on Feb. 22 with six-game road trip to North Carolina.
