DALLAS (NCBWA) Institutions from the North Eastern Athletic Conference and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference gained National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division III accolades for games played March 12-18.
Hitter of the Week: Junior outfielder Will Welsh of Lancaster Bible gave the Chargers plenty of offensive fuel to spark a 6-0 week. The Lancaster, Pa., native went 11-of-17 at the dish (.647) which included four home runs, 14 runs scored and 18 RBI. He drove in at least two runs in every game of a South Carolina trip.
Honorable Mention Hitter: Jon Pressley, So., 3B, U.S. Coast Guard Academy - Was on fire last week as he hit .846 going 11 for 13 at the plate leading the Bears to a perfect 3-0 record in Ft. Myers. He was five for six including a three-run triple in the ninth to tie the game against Wilmington before scoring the winning run in a 15-14 win. He had a double, triple, homer and eight RBI with five runs scored and a 1.308 slugging percentage in the three wins last week. He was also four for four in a 7-5 win over Gallaudet, and, in the final game of the week, the sophomore was two for three and hit his first career homer and drove in three runs.
Pitcher of the Week: Junior Colin Coffey of Luther College put a no-no together over nine innings against Northland College March 17. He retired the first 18 batters he faced before issuing a lead-off walk in the bottom of the 8th. Coffey struck out 13 of the 29 batters he faced.
Honorable Mention Pitcher: Nick Roberti, Jr., Washington College - Twirled the 15th no-hitter in Conference history in the Shoremen's 13-0 victory against Bethany. He struck out four batters and did not allow a free pass, retiring the final 13 Bison hitters.
Rookie of the Week: The week's no-hit theme on the mound continued, as Cazenovia College starter Isaiah Ausby did the same to UMaine-Farmington March 13. The Endicott, N.Y., native completed a seven-inning masterpiece in his first collegiate start that enabled the Wildcats to upend their opponents 5-0. Allowed just one walk and struck out seven.
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.