Photo Credit: Brigid O'Connell (Prune Packers), Gordie Clary (Mudcats), Sonny Tapia (Saints) and Terry Jordan (Barons)

By CCL Reporters Sean Brennan, Sam Nute, and Dylan Wickman

It's time to name the Week 3 CCL Players of the Week. In the North, University of Alabama’s Will Hodo (Alabama) takes home Hitter of the Week while Sonoma State’s Caleb Davis (Mudcats) takes home the pitching honors. In the South, Tarleton State’s Mason Hammonds is the Hitter of the Week and Harold Boyce is awarded with CCL South Pitcher of the Week honors. Learn more about each of these player’s performances as well as notes from the 2023 NCAA season.

CCL North Division // Hitter of the Week

A Healdsburg Prune Packer wins the CCL North Hitter of the Week honor for the second consecutive week as infielder/outfielder Will Hodo (Alabama) takes home the award. Although the Prune Packers suffered their first loss of the season, they finished Week 3 with a dominant 6-1 record, and Hodo was right in the middle of it all.

In 17 at-bats across four games this week, Hodo batted .647 with a 1.582 OPS, tallying 11 hits, one home run, one double, adding four RBI and two walks. Hodo has hit .552 with 16 hits in 29 at-at bats and has proven he can hit with power tallying 5 XBH including two home runs and three doubles. 

Hodo is coming off of a solid season at the University of Alabama that saw him as a contributor on the Crimson Tide’s run to the NCAA Super Regionals. In 39 games played, Hodo slashed .280/.411/.420 with four home runs and 21 RBI. Perhaps Hodo’s best game of the year came against NCAA College World Series runner-up Florida. Hitting second in the order, Hodo went 3-for-4 with a walk, setting the table for his teammates and scoring three runs. 

Both Hodo and Hunter Dorraugh (San Jose State), last week’s North Hitter of the Week winner, feature to be major pieces in a Prune Packer lineup that is searching for its third consecutive CCL State Championship.

CCL North Division // Pitcher of the Week

The CCL North Pitcher of the Week Honor goes to the Solano Mudcats RHP Caleb Davis (Sonoma State), who was the catalyst in ending the Healdsburg Prune Packers’ 18-game winning streak and handing their first loss of the season.

Pitching a 7.0-inning complete game in the first leg of a double-header, Davis only gave up one earned run to the Prune Packers high-powered offense – which is averaging about eight runs per game this season – while striking out six batters. Davis gave up nine hits and found himself in some binds, but consistently got himself out of them to give his team a chance to win.

The most pressure-packed situation he faced came in the top of the seventh inning when Healdsburg had the tying run on second with two outs on the board. But Davis kept his composure and struck out outfielder Cameron Nickens, a .375 hitter this season, to secure the victory.

This summer, Davis has limited teams to three or less runs in three of his four appearances for Solano. The Mudcats will hope that he continues putting together these big performances as they try to gain momentum in the early season.

CCL South Division // Hitter of the Week

This summer’s second CCL South Hitter of the Week is Arroyo Seco Saints infielder Mason Hammonds (Tarleton State), who has shined during his team’s current five-game winning streak. Hammonds made the most of his nine at-bats, recording six hits, two doubles and an RBI while only striking out once.

With his strong offensive numbers this week, Hammonds has undoubtedly made his presence felt, but consistency at the plate is nothing new for the Lindale, Texas native. So far this season, Hammonds is hitting an efficient .414 through 29 at-bats while recording the second-most hits (12) in the CCL South Division. The rising senior is also a threat on the basepaths, as he’s accrued five swiped bags on the 2023 campaign.

Upon his arrival at Tarleton State for the 2023 season, the starting shortstop became an integral piece of the Texans’ lineup, leading the team in hits (64), runs scored (43), doubles (16) and multi-hit games (18).

Hammonds will look to build off his productive start to the CCL Season and compliment a high-powered Saints offense down the stretch.

CCL South Division // Pitcher of the Week

MLB Academy Barons right-handed pitcher Harold Boyce (undecided) clinched this week’s CCL South Pitcher of the Week title thanks to a commanding first start of the season on June 23. The Canyon Country, Calif. Native fueled a 6-2 victory over the Orange County Riptide, retiring 19 batters – ten by way of the strikeout – and earning the win in 5.0 shutout innings.

Boyce didn’t waste any time asserting his dominance, as he struck out the side in the opening frame. He would then work around two baserunners in the second and fourth to maintain his flawless 0.00 ERA on the summer. And despite excelling in his inaugural start of 2023, Boyce entered the game already a mainstay of the Barons’ staff.

In his first three appearances of the season, Boyce was used as a trusted reliever, issuing just two walks and tossing five strikeouts in six innings of work. With outing number four in the books, Boyce sits atop the CCL South Division for K’s with 16. What makes Boyce’s success even more impressive is the fact that he entered the summer somewhat cold, as he didn’t suit up for the 2023 College Baseball Season due to personal reasons.

During his sophomore season at Los Angeles Mission College in 2022, Boyce showed his versatility, recording six starts, two complete games and two saves. In total, the righty posted a 3.39 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a team-leading 57 strikeouts in 52.1 innings on the mound.

After displaying his flexibility once again this summer, Boyce forms a manacing duo with right-hander Evan Adolphus (Cypress) to headline the Academy’s arms.