Mike McCombs is the sports editor at the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. He is on his second tour of duty in the Lowcountry. | USC Beaufort freshman pitcher Kristy Cook and sophomore second baseman Katie Rietkovich have been named the Sun Conference pitcher and player of the week, respectively, by the conference's sports information directors, the first honors for the program that started play this past weekend.
Cook a freshman right-hander from Brooks, Ga., struck out 12 in a five-inning no-hitter in the Sand Sharks' first game, a 16-0 win over Wesleyan College on Saturday. She allowed only one baserunner, who reached on an error.
Rietkovich went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and seven RBIs in the doubleheader sweep. She hit the program's first home run — a three-run blast in the first game — and drove in six runs in the opener.
The Sand Sharks host Fisher (Mass.) College for a four-game series this weekend. Doubleheaders begin at 11 a.m. Saturday and noon Sunday at the Richard Gray Sports Complex Hardeeville.