NCBWA NAMES DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) Christopher Newport's Tommy Vitaletti and Frostburg State's Greg Schneider earned National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association Division III accolades for the period of Feb. 15-21.


Vitaletti, a senior outfielder from Williamsburg, Va., was scalding hot in the first five games for Christopher Newport, hitting .700 (14-20) with 12 RBI and 10 runs scored. He registered back-to-back five-hit games against Rutgers-Newark and drove in eight runs in one of those games, becoming just the second CNU player in history to post eight RBI or more in a game. Vittaletti, helping guide the Captains to an unbeaten campaign to date, also totaled six extra-base hits including a pair of home runs as part of a meteoric 1.250 slugging percentage. For good measure, he was a perfect seven-for-seven in stolen bases, as the Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Week leads the league in nearly every offensive statistical category.


Schneider, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Jefferson Hills, Pa., had a prolific performance in his first outing of 2016. The Capital Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week struck 14 batters in seven and two-thirds innings of work against Stevenson in the Bobcats' season opener Feb. 19. Schneider fanned two or more batters in five innings while scattering two hits and walking just one batter in his shutout performance that led No. 10-ranked D3Baseball.com Frostburg State to a 2-0 win.


Honorable Mention Hitter: Kenner Berry, Jr., OF, Bridgewater - Had a monster week at the plate as hit for a .588 average (10-for-17) and a 1.353 slugging percentage in four games Opened the season with a three-for-five effort and one run batted in to help lead the Eagles to a 5-1 victory at Averett · In home-opening twinbill vs. Mt. St. Vincent, Berry finished six-for-eight with eight RBIs, as all six of his hits went for extra bases with three homers, two doubles and one triple to lead the Eagles to two wins. He capped the week with a two-for-four effort and two more RBIs in a victory over Juniata.


Honorable Mention Pitcher: Rob Caudill, Sr., RHP, Centre - Started the season off strong with an impressive outing, fanning 13 batters in seven innings of work in Centre's 6-1 win over Wilmington (Ohio) in the season opener Feb. 20 Scattered three hits across those seven innings, allowing one unearned run without walking a batter · Added a putout and two assists in the field as well · Averaging 16.71 strikeouts per nine innings after his first outing.


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.