DALLAS (NCBWA) Six multi-hit games (with a pitching shutout thrown in) by Jeff Scafidi of Anna Maria College and sterling efforts both starting and relieving by Tim Smith of Nichols College have earned the pair the NCAA Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week awards for the fourth week of 2010, covering games of March 22-28, as voted on by a panel of D-III members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Scafidi, a sophomore right fielder from Worcester, Mass., put on a hitting and pitching show as the AMCATS compiled a 5-1 weekly record, including a 4-1 mark in conference play. At the plate, he batted .750 (15-for-20) with four doubles, two triples, 16 RBI and eight runs scored, posting a 1.150 slugging percentage and a .750 on-base percentage. He collected multiple hits and drove in at least one run in each of the AMCATS six games, including six hits and eight RBI in a doubleheader sweep of Norwich, five hits and two RBI in a TCCC split with Gordon, and four hits and six RBI in a TCCC sweep of Colby-Sawyer. For good measure, he also hurled a three-hit shutout in the opening game against Colby-Sawyer, striking out nine and walking just one in the 13-0 triumph. Scafidi was named The Commonwealth Coast Conference Co-Player of the Week.
Smith, a senior from Plainfield, Conn., allowed just one hit in eight scoreless innings of work, picking up a win and a save in the Bisons first doubleheader sweep of Roger Williams since 2005. In the opening game, a 12-0 win, he tossed a one-hit shutout in which he faced the minimum 21 batters. He walked one, struck out four, and needed just 70 pitches to go the distance. He retired the final 15 batters of the game and did not allow a single runner to reach second base. In the nightcap, he retired the side on just seven pitches to preserve a 4-2 win. Smith was named The Commonwealth Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week.
Honorable mention hitters: James Wood (Trinity CT) - .605 (23-38), 4 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 22 RBI, 17 runs, 1.158 slugging pct.; Tyler Berry (Millsaps) - .786 (11-14), 4 home runs, 9 RBI, 8 runs, 1.643 slugging pct.; Ken Witte (New Jersey City) - .833 (10-12), 2 doubles, 7 RBI, 8 runs, 1.000 slugging pct.; Anthony Genna (Webster) - .625 (10-16), 2 doubles, 4 RBI, 7 runs, .750 slugging pct.; Rick Vail (Curry) - .750 (8-12), 3 doubles, 8 RBI, 10 runs, .917 slugging pct.; Johno Hinkell (Worcester State) - .500 (6-12), 4 home runs, 13 RBI, 9 runs, 1.500 slugging pct.; Phil DeMarco (Clark) - .583 (7-12), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, 3 stolen bases, 1.417 slugging pct.; Dave Kernan (Rochester Tech) - .875 (7-8), 1 double, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 6 RBI, 6 runs, 2.000 slugging pct.; Dmitri Deoudes (Catholic) - .778 (7-9), 1 double, 1 home run, 7 RBI, 3 runs, 1.222 slugging pct.
Honorable mention pitchers: Steve Salazar (Aurora) - 1-0, 0.00, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 1 hit, 6 strikeouts; Ben Lause (Centre) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 1 hit, 13 strikeouts; Shane Zellers (Alvernia) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 3 hits, 13 strikeouts; Mark Crescenzi (Richard Stockton) - 1-0, 0.00, 4.0 ip, 6 hits, 2 strikeouts; Kevin Jefferis (Western New England) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 7 strikeouts; Nolan Corr (Wheaton MA) - 1-0, 0.00, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 3 hits, 5 strikeouts; Chris Semchenko (McMurry) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 1 hit, 13 strikeouts; Chris Torgerson (Willamette) - 1-0, 0.00, 9.0 ip, 5 hits, 5 strikeouts; Kyle Winter (Greenville IL) - 1-0, 0.00, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 1 hit, 9 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)