DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
(NCBWA) released the Pro-Line Cap National Player of the Week awards
for the period ending May 1. Utah senior second baseman Doug Beck
was named National Hitter of the Week, while Ole Miss junior left-hander
Matt Maloney 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.
Beck
led the Utes to a 4-0 record on the week, including a three-game series
sweep over New Mexico. In game one, he went 2-for-4 as Utah beat the Lobos,
5-2. The Denver, Colo., native followed in game two with another 2-for-4
performance, including a RBI double in the decisive five-run fifth inning
that pushed Utah ahead for good in its 8-4 win. Beck concluded his week
hitting for the cycle as part of a 6-for-7, nine RBI outing in the Utes
20-13 win. His nine RBI are a Utah team season-high and one off the MWC'
s single-game mark, while his six hits tied the conference record for hits
in a game for the second straight week (BYU's Taylor also tied the record
last week). For the week, Beck went 11-for-19 (.526) from the plate, with
a home run, three doubles, a triple, 10 RBI and three runs scored with a
slugging percentage of 1.000.
Maloney recorded his first career shutout and SEC win in Ole Miss' 5-0
win over Mississippi State on Saturday, throwing a complete game, two-hitter.
The Rebels went on to record their first three-game sweep of the Bulldogs
since 1978. The Huron, Ohio native faced just two batters over the minimum
and threw exactly 100 pitches, 66 for strikes. He didn't allow a Bulldog
base runner to reach second base and carried a one-hitter into the ninth
inning.
With this week's honor, Maloney 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