NCBWA NAMES DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) Youth was served this week as slugging outfielder Steve DeBarberie of Alvernia College and two-game winner Bryon Mendenhall of Randolph-Macon College have been named the sixth National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week in the NCAA Division III for the week of March 31-April 6, 2008, as chosen by members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.


DeBarberie, a sophomore from Drexel Hill , Pa. , was named the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Player of the Week after batting .786 (11-for-14) with nine runs, three doubles, one triple, five home runs, and 16 RBI. In a 22-8 win over Eastern, he went 5-for-7 with a triple, two home runs, four runs scored and eight RBI. In a doubleheader sweep of Eastern, he was 5-for-5 with three home runs, four runs scored and six RBI. DeBarberie had 31 total bases and a slugging percentage of 2.214. He also had a fielding percentage of 1.000 as the Crusaders went 5-0 in PAC play for the week.


Mendenhall, a freshman from Falls Church , Va. , collected two wins for the Yellow Jackets and did not allow a single run, striking out 14 in 12 innings while scattering 11 hits with three walks. On Monday, he started and picked up a win over Emory and Henry after scattering six hits and walking just one batter while striking out nine in his seven innings on the bump. On Saturday against Washington and Lee, he went five innings, allowing just five hits and no runs, while striking out five and walking two. Mendenhall, who improved to 5-0 on the season, was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.


Honorable Mention Hitters: Richard Gomez (CCNY) - .769 (10-13), 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, 2 steals, 1.889 slugging pct.; Mike Stout (DePauw) - .632 (12-19), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 12 RBI, 9 runs, 1.158 slugging pct.; Park Smith (Denison) - .813 (13-16), 3 doubles, 8 RBI, 3 runs, 1.000 slugging pct.; Drew Farr (Texas Lutheran) - .750 (6-9), 1 double, 4 home runs, 9 RBI, 5 runs, 2.375 slugging pct., Brian Moran (Grove City) - .714 (10-14), 2 home runs, 9 RBI, 8 runs, 3 steals, 1.357 slugging pct.; Andrew Hanson (Franklin & Marshall) - .706 (12-17), 6 doubles, 3 RBI, 9 runs, 3 steals, 1.059 slugging pct.


Honorable Mention Pitchers: Dave Ahern (Babson) - 1-0, 2.57, 7.0 ip, 7 hits, 5 strikeouts; Ryan Kulik (Rowan) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 cg, 4 hits, 14 strikeouts; Jay Enoch (Juniata) 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 2 hits, 13 strikeouts; James Clear (Denison) - 1-0, 2.07 ERA, 8.2 ip, 7 strikeouts; Joe Zongol (Rensselaer) - 2-0, 0.69 ERA, 13.0 ip, 1 cg, 8 hits, 12 strikeouts; James Morin (Keene State) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 cg, 4 hits, 9 strikeouts; Justin Litteken (Greenville) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 cg, 2 hits, 7 strikeouts; John Tschantz (DePauw) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 cg, 2 hits, 5 strikeouts; Ed Hurta (LeTourneau) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 cg, 4hits, 4 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.


2008 NCBWA Division III Players of the Week:

March 9: Brad Broussard, Ozarks (Hitter); Joe Bartlinski, Kean (Pitcher)

· March 16: Brent Voorhees, McMurry (Hitter); Ryan Kulik, Rowan (Pitcher)

· March 23: Drew Hedman, Pomona-Pitzer (Hitter); Drew Campbell, Kean (Pitcher)

· March 30: Derek Gianakas, Kean (Hitter); Lonnie Robinson, St. Thomas [Minn.] (Pitcher)

· April 6: Derek David, McMurry (Hitter); Matt Tone, SUNY-Cortland (Pitcher)

· April 13: Steve DeBarberie, Alvernia (Hitter);
Bryon Mendenhall, Randolph-Macon (Pitcher)


· April 20: Ricky Angel, Illinois Wesleyan (Hitter);
Jeremy Rubens, Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Pitcher)


· April 27: J.D. Rotzoll, Concordia (Hitter);
Josh Roiger, Hamline (Pitcher)


· May 4: Tim McMenamin, Gwynedd-Mercy (Hitter);
Brent Kulavic, Illinois Wesleyan (Pitcher)