DALLAS (NCBWA) Multi-purpose slugger Bruce Maxwell of Birmingham-Southern College and no-hit hurler Brian Ranta of George Fox University have been named the NCAA Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week respectively for the week of March 19-25 as voted on by a panel of D-III members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Maxwell, a junior from Toney, Ala., who plays both catcher and first base (but not at the same time!), led Birmingham-Southern to a 5-0 record this week with two wins against Hendrix and three against Berry. He paced the Panther offense with a .667 average at the plate, going 10-for-15 with five doubles, two home runs, and eight RBI. He collected 21 total bases for a 1.267 slugging percentage, and was walked seven times and hit by a pitch twice for an on-base average of .792. In Saturdays doubleheader sweep of Berry, he was 6-for-8 with two home runs, three doubles, and six RBI. He also led the team with 34 putouts on defense. Maxwell was named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Week.
In a week that featured three no-hitters and a couple of one-hitters around the country, Ranta stood out with a dazzling nine-inning performance in George Foxs 1-0 win over Whitman in the first game of a doubleheader played at Concordia University in Portland. He threw the fourth no-hitter in Bruins· history, striking out a career-high 12 batters. He retired the first 13 Missionaries of the game, walked a pair with one out in the fifth inning, then set down the last 14 in a row. He recorded 10 outs on ground balls, and there were no difficult plays behind him. Ranta was named the Northwest Conference Pitching Player of the Week.
Honorable mention hitters: Adam Derner (William Paterson) - .480 (12-25), 2 doubles, 4 home runs, 17 RBIs, 7 runs, 1.040 slugging pct.; Brandon Rogalski (Washington-St. Louis) - .615 (16-26), 1 double, 4 RBIs, 8 runs, 5 stolen bases, .654 slugging pct.; Kyle Rodriguez (Concordia TX) - .636 (7-11), 1 double, 1 triple, 8 RBIs, 3 runs, .919 slugging pct.; Corey Marchant (Manchester) - .500 (12-24), 5 home runs, 10 RBIs, 8 runs, 1.125 slugging pct.; Chuck Ziants (Bethany WV) - .667 (10-15), 2 doubles, 9 RBIs, 4 runs, .800 slugging pct.; Josh Staniscia (Washington & Jefferson) - .526 (10-19), 1 double, 2 triples, 11 RBIs, 9 runs, .789 slugging pct.; Shawn Miller (Concordia-Chicago) - .667 (8-12), 1 double, 1 triple, 4 RBIs, 2 runs, .917 slugging pct.; Billy Lirely (Texas-Tyler) - .455 (5-11), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 6 RBI, 5 runs, 1.091 slugging pct.; Buddy Elmore (East Texas Baptist) - .571 (7-12), 1 home run, 8 RBIs, 6 runs, .833 slugging pct.
Honorable mention pitchers: Chris Dragone (Farmingdale State) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 0 hits, 7 strikeouts; Sam Forkert (Marian) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 0 hits, 12 strikeouts; Stuart Gano (Pomona-Pitzer) - 2-0, 1.20 ERA, 15.0 ip, 1 cg, 9 hits, 12 strikeouts; James Chiorello (McDaniel) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 1 hit, 12 strikeouts; Alex Terry (Chicago) - 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 14.0 ip, 2 cg, 5 hits, 7 strikeouts; Brian Rauh (Chapman) - 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 6 hits, 13 strikeouts; David Drinks (DeSales) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts.
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 Howser Award Player of the Year, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.
2012 NCBWA Division III Players of the Week:
March 4: Andy King, Hamline (Hitter); Mitch
Hunnicutt, Hanover (Pitcher)
· March
11: Zach Hofer, Elmhurst (Hitter); Blaine O'Brien, Keystone (Pitcher)
· March 18: Gregg Steinman, Moravian (Hitter);
Steve Maher, St. Thomas (Pitcher)
· March
25: Bruce Maxwell, Birmingham-Southern (Hitter); Brian Ranta, George Fox (Pitcher)
· April 1: Dan Fiorito, Manhattanville (Hitter);
Jarrett Gish, Case Western Reserve (Pitcher)
·
April 8: Matt Thompson, McMurry (Hitter); Jhonneris
Mendez, Suffolk (Pitcher)
· April 15:
Kyle Cook, Centre (Hitter); Kyle Cunningham-Rhoads, Wooster (Pitcher)
·
April 22: Edwin Moser, DeSales (Hitter); Tyler
Erickson, Castleton State (Pitcher)
·
April 29: Tim Saunders, Marietta (Hitter); Kyle Szatrowski, UMass-Boston (Pitcher)
· May 6: Brett Van Asdlen, Aurora (Hitter);
Bill Oppriecht, Wisconsin-Plattevile (Pitcher)