BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
(Presented by Center City Print)
JIMMY DECKER, Riverside senior first baseman
Time period: May 22-28
Game One: Decker was 3-for-4 with four RBIs, two doubles and a run scored during a 9-2 victory over Carbondale in the District 2 Class 3A quarterfinals May 24.
Game Two: Decker’s seventh-inning single up the middle lifted Riverside over Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 champion Holy Redeemer May 26 and into the District 2 title game with a 7-6 victory. He was 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Season batting: Decker is the leader of the District 2 Class 3A champions in most batting categories. He tops the team in batting average (.450), on-base percentage (.489), slugging percentage (.587), hits (36), doubles (8) and RBIs (24), including Tuesday’s 8-5 win over Lake-Lehman in a district final, which was not part of week for which he was honored. Decker also has a home run and 14 runs scored.
Season pitching: Decker made a team-high eight relief appearances, along with two starts. He is 0-1 with a 5.83 earned run average. He has allowed 30 hits and 30 walks while striking out 19 in 24 innings.
About Jimmy: The three-year starter has nearly doubled his batting average this season. He hits third in the Riverside lineup.
About the Vikings: Riverside had an up-and-down season, but the Vikings got hot at the right time to win their second District 2 Class 3A title in three years. Riverside went 8-6 to finish fourth of eight teams in Lackawanna League Division 3. It takes a 16-9 overall record to Bowman Field in Williamsport Monday to face District 4 champion Hughesville (19-3) at 4 p.m. in a first-round Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A state game. Decker joins teammate Casey O’Brien as District 2 Player of the Week selections this season.
