Tim Merolillo would rather not know his batting average, or even his earned run average for that matter.

As far as he's concerned, statistics bring nothing but unnecessary pressure.

"I don't really like to look until after the season is over," said Merolillo, a junior outfielder/pitcher for NCAA Division II Concord University in Athens, W.Va.

"That's the way I've always been," he said. "That approach has worked well for me"

In fact, it's worked so well that Merolillo was unaware he had been named the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the week earlier this season until he was told by his mother.

Merolillo, a McCandless resident and a 2005 North Allegheny High School graduate, received the recognition Feb. 19 after he hit .357 (5 for 14) with three home runs and seven RBIs in a season-opening, four-game split with Pitt-Johnstown.

In the opener of a doubleheader Feb. 15, Merolillo hit two homers and drove in six runs in a Concord victory.

The next day, the left-hander started the first game of another doubleheader and allowed five runs in seven innings in a losing effort. But in the nightcap he hit another home run in a victory.

"He had a great series," Concord coach Kevin Garrett said. "The first pitch he saw, he hit a three-run home run to the opposite field. I felt like he really started off great."

Merolillo said he was surprised by the player of the week award.

"I usually don't start off strong," he said. "It takes a couple of games for me to get going. But I can't complain."

What surprised him the most was his power display. Merolillo is coming off a sophomore season where he hit .356 with 33 RBIs. But he had just one home run.

"I'm not a power hitter at all," he said. "I really have no idea what happened. The wind was blowing out I guess. I got good pitches to hit and made good contact."

Unfortunately, Merolillo hasn't had a chance to build on his hot start. Concord didn't play another game until March 1 because of a slew of weather postponements.

"We're pretty used to [bad weather early in the season] down here," Merolillo said. "Games are always postponed. We still hit every day. I get enough practice to keep my swing nice and tuned up."

The Mountain Lions did get in plenty of action this past week, however, during spring break. They traveled to Savannah, Ga., and played five games through Wednesday. They were 10-4 overall and 8-2 in the WVIAC through Thursday. They returned home yesterday for a scheduled game against Shepherd College.

Concord is expected to contend in the WVIAC this season.

Statistics were available only through eight games. He was batting .540 (14 for 26) with six homers and 18 RBIs (a slugging percentage of 1.340 and a .620 on-base percentage).

The Mountain Lions started seven freshman last season and finished 24-21 overall and 13-7 in conference play. This year, they were picked to finish second in the Southern Division in the preseason coaches' poll. They were ranked No. 9 in the North Atlantic Region preseason poll.

"We should be looking good this year," said Merolillo, whose brother Nick is a freshman outfielder and pitcher.

Added Garrett: "We're still starting a bunch of young kids. We're trying not to put many expectations on them."

Those "young kids" voted Merolillo, 20, the team captain.

"Tim's maturity and his leadership qualities qualifies him for that role," Garrett said. "It's valuable to have a young man like that. He's pitched in big games, he's hit in big games. That experience will help these young players."

Merolillo was named a Post-Gazette North All-Star following his senior season at North Allegheny. That spring, he made the first-team All-Section 1-AAAA after hitting .478 with two homers and 24 RBIs. He also went 3-1 with two saves on the mound.

Merolillo continues to divide his time between the mound and the outfield, something he doesn't plan to change anytime soon. Which position is his favorite?

"It's right down the middle. It's a hard decision," Merolillo said. "I've always loved playing in the outfield. That's what I've done my whole life. But when I'm on the mound and throwing well, there's nothing like that."