NCBWA NAMES DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) Gallaudet University's Casey Hicks continued his impressive 2014 season, and SUNY-Maritime's Trevor Cannella kept up his staff's recent hitless marks en route to gaining the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association weekly awards for the span of March 31-April 6.


Hicks, who had gained honorable mention status on the NCBWA's March 6 release, led his squad to a 4-2 week after batting .524 behind an 11-for-21 performance at the plate and registering four homeruns, a triple, 15 RBIs, eight runs scored and six walks drawn. The Henderson, Nev., senior had at least one hit and an RBI in all six contests, beginning with four RBIs on a pair of hits in a doubleheader sweep over conference rival Cazenovia College March 31. He caught fire in a three-game series with conference foe Lancaster Bible College, going 8-for-12 with three homeruns, 10 RBIs and four walks to give the Bison a 2-1 series win. He also stole a pair of bases as part of North Eastern Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week accolades. Hicks is the second Bison player to gain national honors this year joining pitcher Danny O'Donnell who was honored in the March 27 release.


Cannella, a senior from Sea Cliff, N.Y., tossed a seven-inning no-hitter on Apr. 5 as Maritime blanked St. Joseph's-L.I., 4-0. He walked one and struck out two to become the second Privateer to toss a no-hitter in a span of a month. The Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Week has not allowed a hit in his last 9.2 innings pitched.


Honorable Mention Hitters: Connor Gunn, Amherst - Hit .643 (9-for-14) with a 1.214 slugging percentage and .737 on-base percentage ... Brad Wenzel, York (Pa.) - Hit .516 (16-for-31) with 12 RBI, 13 runs scored, three doubles and two home runs ..... Anree Benitez, Thomas Hit. 667 (10 of 15)to go with .706 on base percentage and a .933 slugging percentage, scoring eight runs and driving in six on the week while swiping four bases in four attempts.


Honorable Mention Pitchers: Sean Conroy, RPI - Went 2-0 with a 0.00 earned run average in two starts last week - both complete games. Allowed just two unearned runs on 13 hits in 16.0 innings, striking out 16, while walking one ... Brandon Holsworth, Gallaudet Two wins, pitching back-to-back complete games and giving up just one run and four hits while striking out 12 batters for a 0.64 earned run average ... Drew Felsenthal, Gettysburg - 2-0 while throwing 14 scoreless innings and striking out 17.


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 Dick Howser Player of the Year Award, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.