NCBWA NAMES DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) East Texas Baptist University sophomore Zach Gartner and Stevenson University sophomore Dan Williams were named Division III National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Hitter and Pitcher of the Week for the period of March 27-April 2.


Gartner, an outfielder from The Woodlands, Texas, set the American Southwest Conference record with two grand slams in a single game to lead the Tigers in a 16-4 seven-inning win over Univ. of Ozarks. For the week, the ASC Hitter of the Week went 9-of-13 at the plate for a .692 average, 10 RBI and 11 runs scored. In the first game vs. Ozarks, he went 5-of-5 with four runs scored with two triples in a 13-2 win. He then walked twice in game two and in game three was 2-of-3 with both grand slams for eight RBI in the 16-4 win. He did not strikeout in 13 at-bats.


Williams, a right-handed starter from Sicklerville, N.J., tossed just the second no-hitter in Mustangs history in a 4-0 complete-game (seven-inning) shutout against conference foe Albright. Williams threw 96 pitches, 61 for strikes, and struck out five batters with just two walks. The Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Pitcher of the Week faced two batters over the minimum and ended the game with back-to-back strikeouts.


Honorable Mention Hitters: Mitchell Yard (Sr., 1B, LaRoche): Had a strong week at the plate last week. He hit .615 (16 for 26) with 12 RBI, nine runs, seven doubles, three home runs and two triples. The first baseman also hit for the cycle in a 12-1 victory over Mt. Aloysius; Eamon McNeil (So., OF, Occidental): Was an incredible 8 for 8 from the field with two home runs, two doubles, six RBI and three runs scored, leading Oxy to a pair of wins over La Verne to jump the Leopards for first place in the SCIAC. He hit a three-run homer to break a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Oxy an 8-5 win in Game 2 of the three game series. He also hit an incredible .909 for the series.


Honorable Mention Pitchers: Jordan Muchin (So., RHP, Eastern Connecticut): In the opening game of an April 2 Little East Conference baseball doubleheader against Plymouth State, Muchin struck out 13 of the 24 batters he faced on the way to tossing the 12th no-hitter in program history in a 10-0, seven-inning victory in his first home start of the year. The no-hitter was the first in 12 years for Eastern; Kenny Carrier (Jr., RHP, FDU-Florham): Pitched a no-hitter to defeat DeSales, 3-1, in the first game of the doubleheader April 2. After a first-inning run and then a walk to begin the second inning, Carrier retired 18 straight Bulldogs to earn the complete-game no-hitter. The junior struck out six batters and walked three; (Brad Margolin (Sr., RHP, Washington [Mo.]): Tossed a one-hit shutout as the Bears defeated 10th-ranked Emory University in the first game of a four-game series March 31. He walked one and fanned nine hitters to outduel previously undefeated Billy Dimlow.


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.