DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
(NCBWA) released the Pro-Line Cap National Player of the Week awards
for the period ending March 20. Nebraska junior third baseman Alex Gordon
was named National Hitter of the Week, while Tennessee junior RHP Luke
Hochevar was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews
candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each
Tuesday throughout the season.
Gordon hit .560 (14-for-25) with four homers, 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored
in leading the Huskers to a perfect 6-0 record. The Omaha, Neb., native,
who currently leads the Big 12 with a .437 average, had six multi-hit games
last week, including a 3-for-4 effort with two homers, five RBIs and four
runs scored in a win against Northern Colorado on Tuesday.
Hochevar threw a complete-game one-hitter to lead the No. 25-ranked Volunteers
to a 2-1 victory over Auburn. He retired 18 straight batters at one point
and took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before surrendering a base hit
to the Tigers. The Fowler, Colo., native's final line included one run on
one hit with four walks and 11 strikeouts. The win improved his record to
5-1 this year, and he now boasts a season ERA of 1.47. He has thrown two
complete games and has picked up victories in each of his last five outings.
With this week's honor, Hochevar automatically is named to the watch
list for Roger Clemens Award, given to the national collegiate pitcher of
the year, sponsored by the Greater Houston Baseball Organization.
The Fort Worth-based Pro-Line Cap Co. supplies the official cap to more
than 100 Division I college teams. This is the first season Pro-Line has
sponsored the NCBWA's Players of the Week. The sponsorship provides for
plaques to be awarded to each of the weekly winners and other promotional
consideration. For more information about Pro-Line, visit their website
at www.prolinecap.com.
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 website, www.ncbwa.com.
2005 Pro-Line Cap Players of the Week:
• Feb. 8: Grant Rembert, Elon (Hitter); Erik Averill, Arizona State (Pitcher)
• Feb. 15: Scott Bridges, Arkansas (Hitter); Brian Bogusevic, Tulane (Pitcher)
• Feb. 22: Drew Stubbs, Texas (Hitter); Taylor Fowler, Arkansas State (Pitcher)
• March 1: Kurt Eichorn, Kent State (Hitter); Tyler Chambliss, Florida State (Pitcher)
• March 8: Matt Wieters, Georgia Tech (Hitter); J.C. Biagi, Centenary (Pitcher)
• March 15: Jeremy Slayden, Georgia Tech (Hitter); Lance Broadway, TCU and Gib Hobson, N.C. State (Pitcher)
• March 22: Alex Gordon, Nebraska (Hitter); Luke Hochevar, Tennessee (Pitcher)
• March 29: Josh Rodriguez, Rice (Hitter); Brent Gaphardt, Delaware (Pitcher)
• April 5: Mike Baxter, Vanderbilt (Hitter); Max Scherzer, Missouri (Pitcher)
• April 12: Dusty Bensko, Illinois (Hitter); J. Brent Cox, Texas (Pitcher)
• April 19: Mike Costanzo, Coastal Carolina (Hitter); Adrian Alaniz, Texas (Pitcher)
• April 26: Brandon Taylor, BYU (Hitter); Ricky Brooks, East Carolina (Pitcher)
• May 3: Doug Beck, Utah (Hitter); Matt Maloney, Ole Miss (Pitcher)
• May 10: J.R. Kyes, Illinois (Hitter); Brad Lincoln, Houston (Pitcher)
• May 17: Justin Beam, Pacific (Hitter); Jeff Denlea, Hofstra (Pitcher)
• May 24: Craig Cooper, Notre Dame and Adam Tucker, Birmingham-Southern
(Hitter); Lance Broadway, TCU (Pitcher)
Related links:
• Pro-Line Cap to sponsor NCBWA Players of the Week
• Pro-Line Cap Player of the Week plaques