NCBWA NAMES DIVISION III NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) Hard-hitting Kurt Kapferer of Wooster
College and Daniel Downs of George Fox University, along with hard-throwing
right-hander Cory Anderson of the Coast Guard Academy, have been
named the 2005 NCAA Division III Co-National Hitters of the Week and
Pitcher of the Week
for March 21-27 by the National Collegiate Baseball
Writers Association.


Kapferer, a pre-season All-America first baseman from Jefferson, Ohio,
snapped out of an early-season slump, batting .593 (16-27) with nine runs
scored and 12 RBI while leading the Scots to eight wins in as many games
last week. Five of his 16 hits went for extra bases - two doubles, one triple,
and two homers giving him a .963 slugging pct., and he walked three times
and was hit by a pitch once. Kapferer·s best outing came in a 15-4 victory
against No. 3-ranked St. Thomas, as he went 5-5 with two home runs and seven
RBI. He was the North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week.


Downs, a sophomore outfielder from Kirkland, Wash., sparked the defending
national champion Bruins to a 4-0 week by hitting .632 (12-19) with three
doubles, two home runs, 21 total bases (1.105 slugging pct.), two walks,
three steals, and an on-base pct. of .667. He collected 13 RBI and scored
eight runs. He had multiple hits in every game, including a 6-7 game at
Whitman, tying GFU records for most hits and most at bats in a game, with
a double, two home runs, nine RBI (the third-highest one-game total ever
for a Bruin), and three runs scored. He was the Northwest Conference Hitter
of the Week.


Anderson, a junior from Scottsdale, Ariz., was overpowering this week
as he picked up both of Coast Guard's wins. In 12 innings, he allowed just
six hits and one earned run while walking four and striking out 22. His
ERA for the week was 0.75. He pitched a complete game against Springfield
and allowed one earned run and four hits while walking two and striking
out 12. He also worked five innings and allowed just two hits and no earned
runs while striking out 10 in a win over Mitchell. He is 3-0 on the season
with a 2.57 ERA and leads the NEWMAC with 32 strikeouts. He was the New
England Womens and Men·s Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.


Honorable Mention Hitters: Doug Wren (Howard Payne) - .765 (13-17),
3 doubles, 1 triple, 6 RBI, 6 runs, 1.059 slugging pct.; Chris Shelhart,
(Olivet) - .700 (7-10), 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 6 RBI, 3 runs, 1.700 slugging
pct.; Gene Taylor (Louisiana College) - .666 (10-15), 1 double, 3 home runs,
9 RBI, 8 runs, 4 steals, 1.250 slugging pct.; Pat Donovan (Massachusetts-Boston)
- .425 (17-40), 4 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 16 RBI, 16 runs, .950
slugging pct.


Honorable Mention Pitchers: Ben OBrien (Eastern Connecticut State)
· 2-0, 1 save, 0.82 ERA, 11 ip, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts, MVP Of California
Invitational; Eric Wadowsky (Thiel) · 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 ip, 1 hit, 4 strikeouts;
John Thiny (Wabash) · 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 ip, 1 hit, 7 strikeouts; Mike Mooney
(Marietta) · 2-0, 1 save, 0.87 ERA, 10.1 ip, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts; Nathan
Soyer (Rose-Hulman) · 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 ip, 2 hits, 7 strikeouts


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