BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
(Presented by Center City Print)
CASEY O’BRIEN, Riverside shortstop/pitcher
Time period: May 1-7
Game One: O’Brien was the winning pitcher when he finished up with three scoreless innings in a 10-9 victory over Holy Cross in Lackawanna League Division 2 May 1. He struck out five and did not walk a batter while allowing just one hit. O’Brien also had a hit, scored twice and drove in a run.
Game Two: O’Brien worked 6 1/3 scoreless innings in relief on the road May 3, getting the Vikings into extra innings and then through most of them in a 4-2, 12-inning, Lackawanna Division 2 victory over then-division leader Honesdale. He gave up three hits and five walks, but worked through trouble with eight strikeouts. O’Brien also had a hit in the win.
Season batting: O’Brien is hitting .455 with 7 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, 23 runs scored and 15 RBI.
Season pitching: O’Brien has struck out 60 in 38 1/3 innings while posting a 1.64 earned run average.
About Casey: O’Brien contributed to a championship team as a freshman and was a key player on another last season. He batted .413 and was second on the team in RBIs in 2022 with 18. As the team’s fourth pitcher, he posted a 1.97 ERA while striking out 13 in 10 2/3 innings over 4 appearances. O’Brien followed up last week’s success by leading the Vikings to a 16-1, four-inning rout of Dunmore in Lackawanna Division 2. He struck out four in a two-hitter with one walk while leading the offense by going 3-for-4 with a home run and double.
About the Vikings: Riverside has kept alive slim hopes of a third straight Lackawanna division title with five straight wins. The Vikings are still two games back in fourth place at 7-4 and are 10-6 overall for third of eight teams in the District 2 Class 3A seedings race. Riverside won the last two Lackawanna Division 3 titles before realignment from four divisions to three in time for this season. The Vikings were unbeaten into the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 2A state semifinals in 2021.
