DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its last NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the period ending May 9th. New Mexico Highlands junior outfielder Clay Mohr is the National Hitter of the Week while Western Oregon junior righthander Grady Wood is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Mohr (Tuscon, Ariz.) had a great weekend for the Cowboys. Mohr hammered a three-run home run to start off the weekend as he pushed the Cowboys past Colorado Christian, 17-14 in their continuation game from March 19th. Mohr continued rolling throughout the weekend as he hit three triples and one double as he brought in seven RBI in the four game series. Mohr would bring in 13 RBI on the weekend including the continuation game. Mohr would add in seven stolen bases as well in the series.
Wood (Eugene, Ore.) tossed a one-hit shutout to seal the 10th-straight GNAC title for Western Oregon. He struck out six and walked just two while inducing 15 groundball outs and two double plays. The only hit he allowed came as a leadoff single in the fourth, and after that point, Wood retired 17 of the next 18 hitters, with the only runner reaching base following a strikeout that got past the catcher. Wood has now won seven-straight decisions.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Central: Clay Mohr, New Mexico Highlands (Hitter); Casey Jacobson, Augustana (Pitcher)
· East: Joe Candala, Dowling (Hitter); Peter Denyssenko, Concordia (N.Y.) (Pitcher)
· Midwest: Cory Phillips, Grand Valley State (Hitter); Chris Bowe, Missouri S&T (Pitcher)
· South: Alex Bello, Lynn (Hitter); Dan Bream, Southern Arkansas (Pitcher)
· South Central: Joe Pirozzolo, St. Edward's (Hitter); Blake Brodie, Arkansas-Fort Smith (Pitcher)
· West: Jeff Ridgeway, Montana State-Billings (Hitter); Grady Wood, Western Oregon (Pitcher)
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.
2011 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Feb. 20: Tyler Migl, St. Mary's, Texas (Hitter);
Trey Mitchell, North Alabama (Pitcher)
· Feb. 27: Wayne Hawkins, Arkansas-Monticello
(Hitter); Dave Middendorf, Northern Kentucky (Pitcher)
· March 6: Drew Dwelly, Barry (Hitter); Gabriel
Asakura, Cal State-Los Angeles (Pitcher)
· March 13: Kaleb Cunningham, Indianapolis (Hitter);
Manny Rodriguez, Barry (Pitcher)
· March 20: Brandon Gipson, Benedict (Hitter);
Mike Fuller, Colorado-Mines (Pitcher)
· March 27: Chase Larsson, Cameron (Hitter);
Ryan Griffin, Alabama-Huntsville (Pitcher)
· April 4: Jenzen Torres, Cal Poly Pomona (Hitter);
Joby Lapkowicz, Slippery Rock (Pitcher)
· April 11: Chase Larsson, Cameron (Hitter);
Ben Hawkins, West Florida (Pitcher)
· April 18: Dillon Hazlett, Emporia State (Hitter);
Vinny DePierro, UMass Lowell (Pitcher)
· April 25: Daniel Dillard, Western Oregon (Hitter);
Zach Jeney, Slippery Rock (Pitcher)
· May 2: Josh Vining, Valdosta State (Hitter);
Scott Lieser, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
· May 9: Clay Mohr, New Mexico Highlands (Hitter);
Grady Wood, Western Oregon (Pitcher)