Robson, Hann stut their stuff down south

* CF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) and SS Kyle Hann (Oakville, Ont.) were teammates with the Ontario Blue Jays, they were teammates with the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 2013-14 and now they are linked together coming off red shirt seasons. Robson earned Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week at MSU, while Hann, who transferred to St.  John’s River State Vikings, earned Florida JUCO player of the week. ....  

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By Bob Elliott

CF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) and SS Kyle Hann (Oakville, Ont.) were not in line long when they returned home and reached customs after their sophomore season with the Mississippi State Bulldogs at the end of last spring.

Customs agent: “Anything to declare?”

Robson: “One hit in 16 at-bats.”

Hann: “One hit, one RBI in 20 at-bats.”

That was the spring of 2014.

This spring has been a different tale.

Now, they would be holding up the line if they keep racking up hits and accolades at this pace.

Given medical redshirt status Hann transferred to the St. John’s River State College Vikings where he is dominating as a sophomore, winning Florida JUCO Player of the Week and continuing his hot streak.

Robson remained a Diamond Dog after he was red shirted last year following a March 23 injury after 18 games and missing the rest of the season. And after a 1-for-16 season at the plate a year ago, the redshirt sophomore reached safely in 15 of 17 plate appearances to earn Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week.

Both Hann and Robson played their final year of high school for the Ontario Blue Jays and coach Dan Bleiwas.

Hitting in the No. 5 hole in all four of MSU’s wins, Robson was 6-for-10 (.600) with five walks and twice was hit by a pitch scoring eight runs. He lead the Southeastern Conference after the first week of play in runs scored and five walks. His on-base percentage and average both currently rank second in the league.

Robson’s performance helped the Diamond Dawgs move up in four of the five polls released this week. After staying put at No. 14 in Baseball America, MSU jumped to 18th in Collegiate Baseball, 20th in NCBWA, 21st in Perfect Game and entered the D1 Baseball Top 25 at No. 24.

How the week that was for Robson as he :

Had two hits in two at-bats with a pair of walks in the season opener at Starkville, Miss., a 6-2 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats, who tried to recruit Robson his final season. He reached on and infield single and scored in the second, singled to right and scored in the third, walked in the fourth and walked in the seventh. Four at-bats ... four times on base.

Singled, reached twice on fielder’s choices, walked and stole two bases in a 7-0 win over the Miami RedHawks. Reached on a fielder’s choice and scored in the first, walked in the third, reached on a fielder’s choice in the fifth, singled in the seventh and stole second and third. Four at-bats ... four times on base.

Had a 3-for-4 day, with two walks reaching base five times -- scoring three runs -- before striking out in a 19-5 win over Cincinnati. He walked and scored in the second, singled in the third, singled in the fourth, doubled to left and scored in the sixth, walked and scored in the sixth and struck out in the eighth. Six at-bats ... five times on base.

Was hitless with two runs scored in a 16-7 final win over Cincy. He reached on a fielder’s choice in the first, hit by a pitch and scored in the third, was plunked by a pitch and scored in the fourth. Three at-bats ... three times on base.

Robson has already earned a nickname ... The Maple Hammer.

Hann won the NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA Player of the Week batting .500 (18-for-36) with six RBIs and six stolen bases in nine games during the voting period.

After going hitless on Opening Day, Hann hit safely in the next eight games, helping the Vikings to an 8-1 record. Included were three-hit games against Abraham Baldwin and Lurleen B. Wallace and a four-hit, three-RBI effort against Gulf Coast State. He scored 11 runs.

And this week Hann singled in an 11-1 win over Thomas JVs in the first game of a doubleheader and was hitless in the nitecap, a 17-0 win. He had three hits, including two homers and three RBIs in a 10-3 win against Broward, was hitless in an 8-4 win against Palm Beach, singled in a run in a 5-3 win against St. Petersburg, singled, homered and knocked in a pair in a 4-0 win over Polk State and singled twice in a 19-4 win against Webber International JVs.