May 6, 2002

LAS VEGAS - UNLV junior second baseman Garett Shitanishi and Air Force junior shortstop Nelson Prouty have been named Co-Mountain West Conference Player of the Week. Nelson and Shitanishi are first-time award winners this season.

Shitanishi, of Reedley, Calif. (Reedley HS), tied a conference record with a 6-for-6 performance in a 19-6 win over BYU in game one of the series last week. He also knocked in two RBI and scored three times. Shitanishi was 1-for-4 in a game two loss to the Cougars, 7-5. He closed out the series by going 2-for-5 with one RBI in an 8-6 loss.

Prouty, from Starkville, Miss. (Starkville Academy), went 6-for-8 (.750) last week, while helping the Falcons to a sweep over first-place San Diego State.

This is the fourth MWC Player of the Week honor bestowed upon the Rebels this season. Senior David Trujillo earned the honor on April 29 and Sophomore Brent Johnson is a two-time honoree on March 6 and April 1.