March 22, 2004

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Luther College baseball player John Jaeger (Decorah, Iowa/Decorah HS) and softball player Katie Chambers (Marble Rock, Iowa/Rockford Senior HS) were named IIAC Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 21.

Jaeger, a junior third baseman/pitcher, hit .414 (12-for-29), drove in 11 runs and scored 10 runs in eight games during the week. He had six extra-base hits including three doubles, two home runs and a triple (.793 slugging percentage). His two home runs moved him to the top of the school’s career list with 15. He had three multi-hit, multi-RBI games during the week including a 4-for-4, three RBI performance in an 18-1 victory over New England College. He also went 2-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored in a 7-5 victory over Augsburg and went 2-for-4 with three RBI in a 4-2 victory over UMass-Boston. Jaeger also pitched in two contests, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.00 ERA. He pitched eight innings and picked up the victory in a start against Augsburg, surrendering 11 hits and five runs (two earned). He also pitched one inning of hitless relief against Knox.

Chambers, a junior second baseman, hit .565 (13-for-23), drove in 16 runs and had a 1.130 slugging percentage in seven games during the week. Among her 13 hits were three doubles, two triples and two home runs. In a 9-0 victory over Trinity (Texas), she went 3-for-3 with a home run, a triple, three RBI and three runs scored. That same day she went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two doubles in a 9-7 victory of SUNY-Institute of Technology. Chambers other multi-hit games during the week were a 2-for-2 performance against Hamilton (11-1 win) and a 2-for-4 performance against Northland (6-0 win). She also drove in two runs in both those contests.

The IIAC also announced on Monday its Players of the Week for the Conference’s four sports in competition during the week. Jaeger and Chambers earned the weekly honors in baseball and softball, respectively, while the following individuals were recognized for their athletic performances.

Men’s Golf: Coe College junior Josh Ketter (Parker, Colo./Chaparral HS) won the Millikin Spring Opener with a two-round score of 142 (73-69). His two-under par score was three shots ahead of the second place finisher in the 85-golfer field.

Men’s Tennis: Luther College senior Ryan Sommers (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) posted a 9-1 record in matches in Hilton Head, S.C. during the week. He posted a 4-1 singles record including a 1-1 record at #1 singles with a victory over Greenville’s Jason Leong (6-1, 6-1) and a loss to Colby-Sawyer’s Chris Ruglisee (6-3, 2-6, 10-8). At #2 singles, he defeated Denison’s Ethan Branum (6-4, 4-6, 10-8), Hobart’s Trevor McAndrew (6-1, 6-4) and Defiance’s Nathan Butler (6-3, 6-1). In doubles action, Sommers and partner Adam Strand went 2-0 at #1 doubles (Greenville and Colby-Sawyer) and 3-0 at #2 doubles (Defiance, Hobart, Denison).

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