DALLAS (NCBWA) Eastern Kentucky catcher Alex Holderbach has been named National Player of the Month and Georgia Tech starter Connor Thomas has been tabbed National Pitcher of the Month, as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced its award winners for April.
A native of Fairfield, Ohio, Holderbach had a prolific April at the plate for Eastern Kentucky. Holderbach hit .449 (31-for-69) with 10 homers and 36 RBI in 17 games, owning six doubles and a triple. He finished the month with a 1.542 OPS, drawing 12 walks and striking out just eight times. A utility his first two years, dynamo before shifting to a full-time role behind the plate in 2018, Holderbach has hit .384 (71-for-185) with 10 doubles, two triples, 17 homers and 71 RBI in 2018.
Thomas, a native of Omega, Ga., dominated on the bump for Georgia Tech during April, posting a 1.41 ERA in four starts, with a 2-0 mark. Thomas worked 32 innings, allowing only 22 hits and four walks, striking out 43 while holding opponents to a .195 average. He tossed two complete games in April and fanned 17 in a win over Wake Forrest. A 5-foot-11, 156-pound southpaw, Thomas is 5-3 with a 3.04 ERA in 13 games in 2018. He has a save in 80 innings, allowing just eight walks and striking out 93.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, ncbwa.com.
For more information on the NCBWA Division I National Players of the Month, contact NCBWA Assistant Executive Director Mike Montoro at West Virginia University at 304-293-2821.
2018 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week:
Feb. 20: Jake Brodt, Santa Clara (Hitter); Nick Sandlin, Southern Miss (Pitcher)
· Feb. 27: Brett Kinneman, N.C. State (Hitter); Joe DeMers, Washington (Pitcher)
· March 6: Luke Heyer, Kentucky (Hitter); Payton Kinney, Omaha (Pitcher)
· March 13: Jacob Rhinesmith, Western Kentucky (Hitter); Casey Mize, Auburn (Pitcher)
· March 20: Joe Genord, USF (Hitter); Griffin Roberts, Wake Forest (Pitcher)
· March 27: Bren Spillane, Illinois (Hitter); Jake Lee, Oakland (Pitcher)
· April 3: Jon Littell, Oklahoma State (Hitter); Colton Eastman, Cal State Fullerton (Pitcher)
· April 10: Connor Pauly, Morehead State (Hitter); Scotty Sunitsch, Washington State (Pitcher)
· April 17: Ross Haffey, Miami, Ohio (Hitter); Noah Zavolas, Harvard (Pitcher)
· April 24: Josh Jung, Texas Tech and Steven Wells, Florida State (Hitter); Connor Van Hoose, Bucknell (Pitcher)
· May 1: Alex Holderbach, Eastern Kentucky (Hitter); Barrett Loseke, Arkansas (Pitcher)
· May 8: Adam Sasser, Georgia (Hitter); Haylen Green, TCU (Pitcher)
· May 15: Will Wilson, N.C. State (Hitter); Luke Heimlich, Oregon State (Pitcher)
· May 22: Will Holland, Auburn (Hitter); Sam Shutes, Toledo (Pitcher)
2018 NCBWA Division I Players of the Month:
February: Brett Kinneman, N.C. State (Player); Brady Feigl, Ole Miss (Pitcher)
· March: Seth Beer, Clemson (Player); Casey Mize, Auburn (Pitcher)
· April: Alex Holderbach, Eastern Kentucky (Player); Connor Thomas, Georgia Tech (Pitcher)
· May: Cal Raleigh, Florida State (Player); Logan Gilbert, Stetson (Pitcher)