NCBWA NAMES DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) A record-setting achievement by outfielder Joseph Villegas of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and a near-perfect game by right-hander Ryan McDonough of Lynchburg College have earned them the first NCAA Division III National Hitter of the Week and Pitcher of the Week honors respectively for 2010, covering the week of March 1-7.


Villegas, a senior from Manchaca, Texas, went 12-for-15 (.800) with a 1.250 slugging percentage, collecting two triples, a home run, a double and nine RBIs over four games. Villegas set the American Southwest Conference all-time record for career triples in the process, breaking the mark of 16 set by McMurry's Albert Carrizales from 2003-06. On the week, Villegas also scored six runs, walked twice, and stole a base. Included in his week were a four-hit game and a five-hit game. He was named the American Southwest Conference West Division Hitter of the Week.


McDonough, a a senior from Centereach, N.Y., pitched a historic game for Lynchburg Thursday as he became the first pitcher in over 28 years to throw a no-hitter in a 2-0 victory over Immaculata. McDonough came within one error of a perfect game, as he retired the first 10 Mighty Mac hitters before setting down the next 11 he faced. McDonough struck out three along the way, throwing only 89 pitches on the afternoon while inducing 14 groundball outs. He was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.


Honorable Mention Hitters: Joe Harten (St. Joseph's-Brooklyn) - .857 (6-7), 1 double, 3 home runs, 2 steals, 10 RBI, 4 runs, 2.268 slugging pct.; Mark Rockey (Puget Sound) - .333 (3-9), 3 home runs, 8 RBI, 3 runs, 2 steals, 7 walks, 1.333 slugging pct.; Sam Hill (Birmingham-Southern) - .727 (8-11), 4 doubles, 1 home run, 6 RBI, 8 runs, 1.364 slugging pct.; Donny Coolidge (SUNY-Plattsburgh) - .429 (9-21), 1 double, 2 home runs, 4 RBI, 6 runs, .719 slugging pct.; Ryan Javech (North Park) - 1.000 (7-7), 4 runs, 2 steals, 1.000 slugging pct.; Jeff Bihy (Stevenson) - .706 (12-17), 7 doubles, 6 RBI, 4 runs, 1.118 slugging pct.; Matt Butorac (St. John's MN) - .577 (15-26), 7 doubles, 1 triple, 9 RBI, 8 runs, .923 slugging pct.; Jason Nikolaisen (Fontbonne) - .750 (6-8), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 6 TBI, 4 runs, 1.625 slugging pct.; Chris Stemple (Rose-Hulman) - .571 (16-28), 6 doubles, 1 home run, 10 RBI, 12 runs, .893 slugging pct.


Honorable Mention Pitchers: Sean White (Dickinson) - 1-0, 1.25 ERA, 8.0 ip, 1 cg, 0 hits, 17 strikeouts; Deker Eitel (Rose-Hulman) - 2-0, 1.69 ERA, 16.0 ip, 1 cg, 9 hits, 19 strikeouts; Ryan Peterson (Rowan) - 2-0, 2.57 ERA, 7.0 ip, 3 hits, 2 strikeouts; Ryan Larson (Linfield) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 3 hits, 11 strikeouts; Boomer Hudson (Millsaps) - 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 saves, 5.1 ip, 1 hit, 6 strikeouts; Greg Bartleski (Sewanee) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 ip, 1 cg, 3 hits, 9 strikeouts; Lee Krammes (Lebanon Valley) - 2-0, 1.50 ERA, 12.0 ip, 6 hits, 15 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.


2010 NCBWA Division III Players of the Week:

March 7: Joseph Villegas, Mary Hardin-Baylor
(Hitter); Ryan McDonough, Lynchburg (Pitcher)


· March 14: Justin Franklin, Ferrum and Jeff
Butera, Haverford (Hitter); James Murrey, Macalester (Pitcher)


· March 21: Michael Cassese, Rutgers-Newark
(Hitter); Paul Uhl, Thomas More and Billy Schmitt, Wartburg (Pitcher)


· March 28: Jeff Scafidi, Anna Maria (Hitter);
Tim Smith, Nichols (Pitcher)


· April 4: Jack Cinoman, Chicago (Hitter); Tim
Kriegel, Hardin-Simmons (Pitcher)


· April 11: Todd Keneborous, St. Joseph's (Hitter);
Steve Locke, College at Brockport (Pitcher)


· April 18: Steve Nickel, Cortland State (Hitter);
Matthew Greene, Castleton State (Pitcher)


· April 25: Jay Slick, Bethel (Hitter); Dave
Filak, SUNY-Oneonta (Pitcher)


· May 2: Chris Jarrett, Anderson (Hitter); Matt
Schuld, St. Thomas (Pitcher)


· May 9: Jay Slick, Bethel and Jacob Millen,
Moravian (Hitter); Matt Schuld, St. Thomas (Pitcher)