NCBWA NAMES DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) A ton of RBIs netted Adam Evanoff of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point the NCAA Division III Hitter of the Week award for April 9-15, while Sam Heaps of Elizabethtown College and Brad Mountain of Eastern Nazarene College shared Pitcher of the Week honors as chosen by representatives of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.


Evanoff, a senior first baseman from Plover, Wis., helped the Pointers to six victories in eight games after batting .571 (20-for-35) with 19 RBIs, 12 runs scored, five doubles and one home run. He had six multi-hit games, including two four-hit performances and two three-hit efforts. He also compiled multiple RBIs in seven of the contests. He was 3-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored in an 18-8 win over Wisconsin-Superior on April 14, and 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two doubles in a 10-2 triumph over the Wisconsin-Superior on April 15. Evanoff was the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week.


Heaps, a sophomore right-hander from Landenberg, Pa., no-hit Juniata in an 11-0 win by the Blue Jays over the Eagles in the first half of a doubleheader Saturday. In seven innings, he struck out six and gave up three walks. It was his only pitching appearance of the week. At the plate, he hit 1-for-3 with two runs scored. He was named the Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Week. Heaps has compiled a 6-1 record with a 1.60 earned run average and 31 strikeouts in 45 innings this season. Opponents are batting just .206 against him.


Mountain, a senior southpaw from Cape May, N.J., picked up a pair of victories for the Crusaders with two complete-game shutouts. In 14 innings of work, he scattered eight hits and walked just three batters, while striking out 21. He defeated Nichols 8-0 on Tuesday with a two-hitter, striking out 13, then blanked Wentworth 3-0 Saturday, scattering six hits while fanning eight. He also batted .400 with four doubles. Mountain was the Commonwealth Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week.


Honorable mention hitters: Kyle Rakes (Centre) - .900 (9-10), 3 2b, 1 hr, 12 RBI, 5 runs, 1.500 slg pct.; Zach Lutz (Alvernia) - .583 (14-24), 3 2b, 3 hr, 15 RBI, 12 runs, 1.083 slg pct; Mike Backus (Gettysburg) - .778 (7-9), 1 2b, 2 RBI, 4 runs, 3 steals, .889 slg pct.; Chris Schank (Lebanon Valley) - .688 (11-16), 3 2b, 4 RBI, 9 runs, 3 steals, .875 slg pct.; Justin Collett (Salve Regina) - .667 (12-18), 4 2b, 1 3b, 1 hr, 7 RBI, 13 runs, 5 steals, 1.167 slg pct.; Ben Titus (Otterbein) - .875 (7-8), 2 hr, 6 RBI, 5 runs, 1.625 slg pct.


Honorable mention pitchers: Matt Aronson (Illinois Wesleyan) - 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 13.0 ip, 3 hits, 13 strikeouts; Aaron Saeugling (Wartburg) - 1-0, 0.69 ERA, 13.0 ip, 10 hits, 13 strikeouts; Jimmy Dougher (SUNY-Cortland) - 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 10.0 ip, 5 h, 10 strikeouts; Fabian Gomez (Rockford) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 hit, 17 strikeouts; Joey Niezer (Wabash) - 2-0, 0.56 ERA, 16.0 ip, 4 hits, 12 strikeouts.


Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Howser Award Player of the Year, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.


2007 NCBWA Division III Players of the Week:

March 8: Jake Shandri, Wartburg (Hitter);
Bill Dictus, Edgewood (Pitcher)


· March 15: Pete Moore, Moravian (Hitter);
Lee Boyse, Coe (Pitcher)


· March 22: Rob Sumner, New Jersey City
(Hitter); Jake Dennstedt, SUNY-Brockport (Pitcher)


· March 29: Jake Shandri, Wartburg (Hitter);
Xander Jones, Ohio Wesleyan (Pitcher)


· April 5: Richard Hurd, Rhodes; Don
Reinertsen, William Paterson; Kyle Sherman, Ohio Wesleyan (Hitter); Kyle Wewe, Thomas
More (Pitcher)


· April 12: Josh Cardoso, Rhode Island
College (Hitter); Bob Buskett, College of New Jersey (Pitcher)


· April 19: Adam Evanoff, Wisconsin-Stevens
Point (Hitter); Sam Heaps, Elizabethtown College (Pitcher)


· April 26: Jimmy Fernandez, Allegheny
(Hitter); Tim Kiely, Trinity (Pitcher)


· May 3: Tim Rowe, Rockford College
(Hitter); Peter Reyes, SUNY-Old Westbury (Pitcher)


· May 10: Tommy Schmidt, Lawrence (Hitter);
Fabian Gomez, Rockford College (Pitcher)