NCBWA NAMES DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) RBI machines Justin Franklin of Ferrum College and Jeff Butera of Haverford College and strikeout artist James Murrey of Macalester College have been selected as the second NCAA Division III National Co-Hitters and Pitcher of the Week for 2010, covering the week of March 8-14, by a panel of D-III members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.


Franklin, a junior first baseman from Appomattox, Va., hit .818 (9-for-11) with a 1.727 slugging percentage, collecting 12 RBI, seven runs scored, one double, three home runs and four walks as the Panthers posted a 3-0 record last week. In a 4-0 win over USA South rival Christopher Newport, Franklin was 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. In a 23-0 victory over Penn State-Harrisburg, Franklin was 3-for-4 with six RBI, three runs scored, one home run and one walk. Finally, in an 11-10 win over USA South foe Averett, Franklin was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored, four RBI, two home runs, one double and three walks. He was named the USA South Player of the Week.


Butera, a junior outfielder from Encinitas, Calif., hit. 633 (19-for-30) on the week with a 1.200 slugging percentage, 14 runs scored, 18 RBI, eight doubles, three home runs and four stolen bases in eight games. Butera had hits in seven of the eight games, including a 5-for-6 game with three runs scored, a program-record eight RBI, a double and two home runs in a 23-11 win on Saturday against Coast Guard. He was named the Centennial Conference Player of the Week.


Murrey, a senior from Western Spring, Ill., matched a 73-year-old school record when he fanned 18 batters in eight innings of work in a 1-0 10-inning victory over No. 30-ranked Johns Hopkins (Md.) on March 13 at Chandler, Ariz. A two-time All-Region selection and Macalester's all-time wins and strikeouts leader, Murrey surrendered just four hits and two walks against previously unbeaten Johns Hopkins, a team which made the NCAA playoffs the last three years. Murrey tied the 1937 Mac record of 18 established by Rex Kern.


Honorable Mention Hitters: Dan Novak (La Roche) - .600 (15-25), 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 3 steals, 17 RBI, 10 runs, 1.080 slugging pct.; Greg Ferrell (Mount Union) - .583 (14-24), 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 RBI, 14 runs, 4 steals, 1.208 slugging pct.; Jason Brown (George Fox) - 1.000 (6-6), 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBI, 3 runs, 1.667 slugging pct.; Will Wright (Mary Washington) - .750 (9-12), 2 home runs, 6 RBI, 4 runs, 2 steals, 1.200 slugging pct.; Mike Galeotafiore (College of New Jersey) - .480 (12-25), 5 doubles, 7 RBI, 4 runs, .680 slugging pct.; Brennyn Smith (Sul Ross State) - .667 (8-12), 1 double, 2 home runs, 10 RBI, 6 runs, 1.200 slugging pct.; Mike Galvin (Anna Maria) - .684 (13-19), 3 doubles, 6 RBI, 9 runs, .842 slugging pct.; Connor Liston (Sewanee) - .643 (9-14), 2 doubles, 2 triples, 5 RBI, 1.071625 slugging pct.


Honorable Mention Pitchers: Brad Orosey (Texas Lutheran) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 ip, 3 hits, 14 strikeouts; Scott Winter (Edgewood) - 1-0, 0.0 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 5 hits, 8 strikeouts; Ryan Thorsen (Concordia-Chicago) - 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 13.0 ip, 1 cg, 9 hits, 17 strikeouts; Mark Hennessey (Dubuque) - 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 11.0 ip, 3 hits, 9 strikeouts; Kyle Lindquist (Marietta) - 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 12.1 ip, 7 hits, 11 strikeouts; Nick Maloney (Rose-Hulman) - 1-0, 1.00 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 1 hit, 4 strikeouts; Thomas Whiting (Worcester Tech) - 0-0, 1.93 ERA, 3 sv, 4.2 ip, 5 strikeouts; Brett Carroll (William Paterson) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 ip, 3 hits, 8 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.


2010 NCBWA Division III Players of the Week:

March 7: Joseph Villegas, Mary Hardin-Baylor
(Hitter); Ryan McDonough, Lynchburg (Pitcher)


· March 14: Justin Franklin, Ferrum and Jeff
Butera, Haverford (Hitter); James Murrey, Macalester (Pitcher)


· March 21: Michael Cassese, Rutgers-Newark
(Hitter); Paul Uhl, Thomas More and Billy Schmitt, Wartburg (Pitcher)


· March 28: Jeff Scafidi, Anna Maria (Hitter);
Tim Smith, Nichols (Pitcher)


· April 4: Jack Cinoman, Chicago (Hitter); Tim
Kriegel, Hardin-Simmons (Pitcher)


· April 11: Todd Keneborous, St. Joseph's (Hitter);
Steve Locke, College at Brockport (Pitcher)


· April 18: Steve Nickel, Cortland State (Hitter);
Matthew Greene, Castleton State (Pitcher)


· April 25: Jay Slick, Bethel (Hitter); Dave
Filak, SUNY-Oneonta (Pitcher)


· May 2: Chris Jarrett, Anderson (Hitter); Matt
Schuld, St. Thomas (Pitcher)


· May 9: Jay Slick, Bethel and Jacob Millen,
Moravian (Hitter); Matt Schuld, St. Thomas (Pitcher)