Weeks - an infielder from Southern University - topped an incredibly talented field of five finalists to capture the 2003 Golden Spikes Award, amateur baseball's most prestigous honor. The 26th presentation of the award, which is sponsored annually by the Major League Baseball Players Association, will be held at a later date and time to be determined.

A native of Altamonte Springs, Florida, Weeks won back-to-back NCAA batting titles (2002-03) with batting averages of .495 and .479, respectively. In 2003, Weeks went 78-for-163 with an NCAA-best 1.61 runs scored per game (82 in 51 contests). He added 16 home runs and 66 RBI and was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the second straight year. Weeks led Southern to the nation's best winning percentage (.863) in Division I baseball this season at 44-7. The standout capped his season by belting a two-run homer to push the Jaguars into the second round of the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional with a 5-3 triumph over Southern Mississippi.

"Growing up as a little kid, I always wanted to be considered one of the best players in the country. So, I'm very elated to win the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award - it's the Heisman Trophy of baseball." Weeks, who has won every 2003 National Player-of-the-Year award to date, was the 2nd overall pick in this past June's Major League Baseball Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers.

"USA Baseball is extremely proud to honor Rickie Weeks of Southern University with the 2003 Golden Spikes Award," said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball Executive Director / CEO. "Rickie's magnificent collegiate career in which he helped put the Jaguars back on the college baseball map, certainly proves he was the most outstanding amateur player this year. We're also excited that Rickie is such an exemplary young man off the field, and we're very happy for the Southern baseball program and their head coach, Roger Cador."

For the past 25 years, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. (See winners box below.) The award is presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball stars J. D. Drew, Pat Burrell, Mark Kotsay, Jason Jennings and Mark Prior, as well as 2002 winner Khalil Greene of the San Diego Padres.

The Golden Spikes Award is sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), underscoring the commitment of Major League Baseball players to the grassroots development of baseball programs, particularly for youth, around the world. The MLBPA supports USA Baseball's ongoing efforts to provide instruction for youth baseball players, coaches, and volunteers, and to prepare amateur athletes for professional competition.

USA Baseball is the National Governing Body of amateur baseball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The organization selects and trains the USA Baseball Olympic Team, the USA Baseball National Team, the USA Baseball Junior National team (18-under), and the USA Baseball Youth National Team (16-under) which participate in various international competitions each year.