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| Spotlight
Players of the Week
Robbie Widlansky
Florida Atlantic Owls |
In the ultra competitive Sun Belt conference a single game
makes an enormous difference in the standings. While the Louisiana
Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns, who finished with a 23-7 conference
record are unquestionably the class of the league this year,
determining positions two though seven is an unenviable, difficult
task. New Orleans, Middle Tennessee and Troy all tied at 16-14,
Louisiana Monroe finished fifth at 15-14 (a game against FIU
was cancelled due to weather), and Florida Atlantic and Western
Kentucky tied for the sixth at an even 15-15 regular season
mark. Consequently, had a game or two unfolded differently
for any team, they could have found themselves a much more
difficult route in the path to the Sun Belt championship.
Florida Atlantic was fortunate to get hot at the end of the
season, sweeping FIU the last weekend of the season and propelling
the Owls to Mobile instead of being on the outside looking
in.
A big reason for the Owls 35-20 overall record and current
five game winning streak is FAU’s first Dick Howser
Award candidate Robbie Widlansky. Widlansky, who unselfishly
moved to the outfield after playing his first two plus seasons
at third, is having the type of season that would put Roy
Hobbs to shame. He’s batted an incredible .445 (101
for 227) to rank in the top 10 nationally with impressive
power numbers to boot. The Coral Springs, FL native had 38
extra base hits, including 15 long balls, 22 doubles and a
triple. Batting in the heart of the potent Owl offense (top
ten nationally in runs per game), Widlansky drove in 67 runners
to rank in the top 20 nationally in RBI/G and even added nine
stolen bases and a double digit hit by pitch mark to push
his on base percentage even farther (.510). He also is in
the midst of a season long 18 game hitting streak going into
the Sun Belt tourney.
With Widlansky’s first single in the last regular season
contest of the year broke the FAU season hits mark at 99.
He then continued hitting, finishing the day 3-for-3 to raise
his hit total to 101 and his batting average to .445 –
and he’s only a junior! However, with Widlansky’s
monster 2007 season, it’s highly doubtful that that
mark will grow too much higher. During the final game of the
regular FAU honored Widlansky along with the graduating Owl
seniors; Head Coach Kevin Cooney included Widlansky in the
ceremony because he knows his star player is going to be drafted
high in the up coming MLB amateur draft and leaving now would
be in his best interest as his stock couldn’t get much
higher.
Widlansky’s 2006 season was cut short as he tore his
hamstring and was limited to playing just eight games. However
both Widlansky and his head coach look at the positive side
of the injury. "He is having the kind of year that makes
sitting out worth it.” Cooney said, “He has worked
at it and he is a much better hitter and a more mature person."
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