DALLAS (NCBWA) John Snyder of Marietta College slugged his team to a No. 1 national ranking and Mike Russo of Kean University threw a one-hit shutout, earning them the eighth NCAA Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week honors respectively for the week of April 18-24, 2011, as voted on by a panel of D-III members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Snyder, a senior center fielder from Altoona, Pa., batted .615 (8-for-13)with a 1.462 slugging percentage, collecting three home runs, two doubles, two stolen bases, eight runs scored and 13 RBI in three victories last week for the Etta Express. He went 5-for-5 with a single, double, and school record-tying three home runs in game one of a twinbill against Muskingum, and tied both conference and school records with 10 RBI. He hit a three-run shot in the second, a two-run blast in the third, and a grand slam in the fourth. He was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI in the second game, and was 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored in a win over La Roche. He is hitting a team-best .455 overall, including .523 against conference opponents, with 15 doubles, four home runs, 28 runs scored, 41 RBI and seven stolen bases. Snyder was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Week.
Russo, a junior right-hander from Hamilton, N.J., became the second Cougar to earn New Jersey Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week honors this season after helping No. 3-ranked Kean maintain a hold on first place in the NJAC standings with a key 3-0 win over No. 23 Rowan. He allowed just one hit in a complete-game shutout, which improved his overall record to 7-0. He took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before surrendering a one-out ground single to right. Though he had some control issues, walking six, he stranded them all, and had one strikeout. Russo currently leads the NJAC in both wins (7) and opponents' low batting average (.144).
Honorable Mention Hitters: Nick Skala (Concordia-Chicago) - .500 (9-18), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 16 RBI, 1.222 slugging pct.; Ryan Yezak (East Texas Baptist) - .667 (8-12), 1 double, 3 home runs, 8 RBI, 5 runs, 1.500 slugging pct.; Zack Roeder (Middlebury) - .714 (10-14), 1 double, 1 home run, 7 RBI, 7 runs, 1.000 slugging pct.; Todd Keneborous (St. Joseph's ME) - .636 (14-22), 1 double, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 9 RBI, 7 runs, 1.046 slugging pct.; Jeff Perillo (Mitchell) - 1.000 (5-5), 2 doubles, 1 home run, 4 RBI, 5 runs, 2.000 slugging pct.; Steve Motika (Elizabethtown) - .647 (11-17), 3 doubles, 5 RBI, 2 runs, .824 slugging pct.
Honorable Mention Pitchers: Chris Chismar (SUNY-New Paltz) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 2 hit, 12 strikeouts; Chris Greiner (Salisbury) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 ip, 3 hits, 10 strikeouts; Nathan VanMeter (Muskingum) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 4 hits, 12 strikeouts; Tyler Laverriere (St. Joseph's ME) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5.0 ip, 1 cg, 0 hits, 10 strikeouts); Paul Martinez (Mitchell) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0, 1 cg, 2 hits, 9 strikeouts; Jason Fink (Texas-Dallas) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 2 hits, 6 strikeouts; Glenn Nowell (Edgewood) - 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 4 hits, 11 strikeouts; Scott Williams (Wisconsin-Stevens Point) - 2-0, 2.64 ERA, 17.0 ip, 1 cg, 13 hits, 25 strikeouts; Matt Ruth (Elizabethtown) - 2-0, 1.50 ERA, 12.0 ip, 7 hits, 9 strikeouts; Brad Orosey (Texas Lutheran) - 1-0, 1.04 ERA, 8.2 ip, 5 hits, 3 strikeouts.
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2011 NCBWA Division III Players of the Week:
March 6: Kevin Brashears, Shenandoah
(Hitter); Matt McAllister of Penn State-Abington (Pitcher)
· March 13: Michael Pascarella, Pittsburgh-Bradford
(Hitter); Lee Schurlknight, Sewanee (Pitcher)
· March 20: Jonathan Mason, Bridgewater
(Hitter); Josh Scott, Baldwin-Wallace (Pitcher)
· March 27: Dan Haugh, Wheaton (Hitter);
Mike McManus, Mt. St. Vincent's (Pitcher)
· April 3: Trent Svehla, Simpson (Hitter);
Mark DiTomasso, Western New England (Pitcher)
· April 10: Ryan Darner, Thomas More
(Hitter); Travis Ratliff, SUNY-Cortland (Pitcher)
· April 17: Brandon O'Connell, Wisconsin-Stout
(Hitter); Sean White, Dickinson (Pitcher)
· April 24: John Snyder, Marietta (Hitter);
Mike Russo, Kean (Pitcher)
· May 1: Matt Bittner, Penn State-Behrend
(Hitter); Max Henry, Saint Vincent (Pitcher)
· May 8: Mike Nodzenski, Grinnell (Hitter);
Joe Sweeney, Illinois Wesleyan (Pitcher)