Janicki wins national catcher of the week

Troy’s Jimmy Janicki was recognized as the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Week last week. This award recognizes the top NCAA Division I catcher, based on both offensive and defensive performance throughout the week.

Janicki hit .450 on the week with a 1.486 OPS, totaling four doubles, two home runs, 13 runs batted in and three runners caught stealing. The cleanup man put an exclamation point on the week with a walk-off grand slam against Louisiana to win the series.

“It was bases loaded, one out. I was just trying to do anything I could to get that run in,” Janicki said. “Honestly, I didn’t know it was a home run.

“I thought it was just going to be a popout, but it cleared the wall.”The week was filled with production from Janicki, as he earned a double and an RBI in all four games that week. The power hitter was a triple away from the cycle in both the midweek game against New Orleans and the rubber match against Louisiana.

Janicki set a career-best and team season high during the midweek with six RBIs, knocking runners in with each of his three hits. Troy’s catcher also set a season high for runs scored in a game with three on Sunday against Louisiana.

The righty slugger has been a problem for opposing pitchers all season, leading the Sun Belt Conference in RBIs and total bases while ranking in the top nine nationally in RBIs with 59. Janicki is also in the top four in the conference in OPS, hits, home runs and slugging percentage. In addition, Jimmy leads the Trojans in batting average, runs and multi-hit games while extending a 10-game hit streak.

The sophomore’s historic week started in New Orleans with a narrow loss after a constant back and forth between the offenses, where Janicki was involved in tying or taking the lead three separate times.

The first was a single that scored Aaron Piasecki in the first inning. Then in the fourth, he scored Piasecki, Josh Pyne and himself with a 396-foot homer on a full count, which was the first of back-to-back homers with Steven Meier. Finally, in the seventh inning, Janicki knocked in Piasecki and Pyne again with a double, also on a full count.

Troy’s backstop showed off the defensive skills in the first game against Louisiana on Friday, cleaning up a Ragin’ Cajun leadoff walk to start the game with a strike ‘em out throw ‘em out double play. Later that inning, he doubled to deep right field to knock in the game-tying run. Janicki also finished off the Cajuns with a 7-6 win by catching the final out of the ball game.

Janicki stayed consistent with another RBI double in game two against Louisiana. He tacked on a single and a run scored off another Meier home run, but the team came up short by one run.

After two one-run games to start the series, Sunday’s series decider would continue to deliver on the dramatics. Louisiana jumped out to a 9-3 lead all the way into the seventh inning, with Janicki knocking in or scoring two of Troy’s three runs up to that point. He then singled in the seventh and scored off Drew Nelson’s bases-clearing double to bring the Trojans within three.

After some help from his teammates, especially Drew Nelson’s homer that tied the game at 11 in the eighth inning, Janicki came up to bat in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and one out. After taking a ball, the catcher of the week cranked a 407-foot homer 103 miles per hour out past doubles alley to electrify Riddle Pace Field and complete the seven-run comeback. The grand slam was the first of Janicki’s career and the second of the season for the Trojans.

This 6-4 sophomore has generated national buzz, with the Buster Posey weekly award, earning himself a 35th overall ranking by Perfect Game for college prospects for the class of 2027. Accolades are nothing new for Janicki, as he has earned preseason recognition from D1 Baseball, Perfect Game and the Sun Belt Conference in both of his seasons at Troy.

Janicki and Trojans just won their road conference series against Marshall after their series against Louisiana. This leaves only three more conference series in the regular season for the Trojans, who are currently fourth in the conference.