NCBWA NAMES DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) Graduate student Vince Rebar of Marywood (Pa.) and sophomore John Catchmark of Alvernia were named Division III National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Hitter and Pitcher of the Week for the period of April 24-30.


Rebar, an infielder from Throop, Pa., hit .813 in a 4-0 week for Marywood, going 13-of-16 at the plate with two doubles, a triple and two homers. Rebar added 10 RBI and had a 1.438 slugging % along with a .842 on-base percentage. He was 5-for-5 in stolen bases. The highlight for the Colonial States Athletic Conferences Hitter of the Week came in a 17-7 win over Cabrini where he was 6-for-6 with a homer, two doubles and three singles to break Marywood's single-game hits record in a seven-inning contest.


Catchmark, a right-hander from Mohnton, Penn., was lights out in two starts for the Crusaders. He compiled 15 innings without allowing a run, struck out 25 batters and gave up just five hits. The Middle Atlantic Commonwealths Pitcher of the Week registered eight innings in a win over Stevenson, allowing just two hits, striking out 14 and walking just one. Catchmark then fired a three-hit, complete-game shutout against Arcadia to open the series. He struck out 11 batters and allowed just one walk.


Honorable Mention Hitters: Eric Hamilton (Sr., INF/C, Oswego): Had an absolutely monstrous week at the dish, recording 17 hits and 20 total bases over the week's five games for a .739 average. Early in the week, in wins over Ithaca and Rochester, the Liverpool, N.Y. native had three and four hits, respectively, including an RBI in each game. Over the weekend, against conference-foe Oneonta, Hamilton recorded a pair of five hit games to raise his season batting average to a preposterous .442. His performance helped lead the Lakers to a series sweep and the clinching of the SUNYAC regular season title. The Lakers also earned the top seed and will host the conference tournament for the first time since its inception in 1998. Hamilton scored nine runs, drove in four and smacked three doubles from the two spot in the lineup. On the base paths, he was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts to bring his season total to 14, while he also fielded his position perfectly in 14 chances; Chris Rebar (Jr., 1B, Kings): Had another big week for the Monarchs, batting .714 (10-for-14), slugging 1.214 and had a .778 on-base percentage. The junior had at least two hits, two RBI and a run scored in each of the four games. Rebar totaled three doubles, two triples, three walks, eight RBI, five runs scored and two stolen bases. He opened the week going 2-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored, a walk and a triple. In a 3-0 series sweep of FDU-Florham, Rebar batted 8-for-10 with six RBI, three runs scored, three doubles and a triple.


Honorable Mention Pitcher: Adam Erkis (Sr., RHP, Vassar): Threw statistically the best game in program history by posting a complete-game shutout over Bard College April 29 on Senior Day in a 1-0 win over the Raptors. Erkis allowed just one hit and no runner reached second base in the game, facing the minimum with four strikeouts and no walks allowed. The only two runners that reached on the day were thrown out at second trying to steal.


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.