Hartong wins player of the week

Junior outfielder and catcher Brad Hartong was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday.

Hartong hit .529 and recorded 10 RBI during the four-game stretch.

IU went 3-1 during the week against Ball State and Illinois, and expanded their Big Ten lead to three games.

Against Ball State last Wednesday, Hartong recorded five RBI in one inning.

“It always seems like some people come up big with the bases empty,” IU Coach Tracy Smith said. “But (Hartong) always puts together good at-bats with guys on base. He’s a competitive kid.”

Hartong, a junior college transfer, is playing his first season for the Hoosiers. At Hartong’s previous school, Cypress College, he was an All-American catcher.

He is usually the 6-hole hitter in the lineup and has given junior preseason All-American Kyle Schwarber some valuable rest by playing games as catcher this year.

But Hartong said he finally felt comfortable seeing the ball this week.

“It’s nice to have a week like this,” Hartong said after the series win against Illinois. “Feeling good about myself, and we got another big week coming up.”

This is the first time Hartong has won the award and the first time a Hoosier has won in three weeks.

On the year, Hartong is hitting .296 with three home runs and 22 RBI. He is one of six Hoosiers hitting over .290 this season.

Evan Hoopfer