Banas, Ayala Honored By NECC

ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Elms College baseball players Kevin Banas and Nathan Ayala were honored by the New England Collegiate Conference on Monday after stellar performances as the Blazers went 4-2 in NECC play last week.

Banas picked up NECC Pitcher of the Week recognition after throwing the program’s second no-hitter. Banas struck out six batters and allowed just one walk in the no-no against Southern Vermont on April 17, leading Elms to a 6-0 win. He took the mound again on April 22 at Newbury and threw seven scoreless innings while picking up four strikeouts in his second victory of the week. Banas finished the week with a 2-0 record in 14.0 innings pitched, a 0.00 ERA and 10 strikeouts while giving up just two walks and four hits.

Ayala was selected as the NECC Rookie of the Week after pulling through with not one but two extra-inning, walk-off hits during the week. He delivered the game-winning hit with one out and a runner on second base to pick up a 2-1 win over SVC on April 17. Four days later he pulled through in a similar situation, driving in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth against Newbury. He finished the week with six hits and two multi-hit games.