Courtesy of the NCBWA
DALLAS – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released the Pro-Line Athletic National Player of the Week awards for the period ending May 23, today. Florida State freshman infielder Jason Stidham was named National Hitter of the Week, while Southern Miss senior RHP Ryan Belanger was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I conferences each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Stidham put together a spectacular three-game series as the freshman third baseman hit .571 (8-for-14) in leading Florida State to its first three-game series sweep of Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The Palm Bay, Fla., native registered multiple hits in all three games as he posted his second four-hit game of his career in game one. He collected a home run and three doubles en route to posting a 1.000 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .588. Stidham led the team in hits (8), doubles (3), RBI’s (10), total bases (14) and batting average on the week. He opened the series, with four hits including a home run and a double as he registered his first four-RBI game of his collegiate career. He hit what would be the eventual game-winner in the top of the third as he hit a two-out, 2-RBI single. On Friday, he had two doubles and two RBI’s as well as a stolen base.
In the series finale, Stidham tied his career-high in RBI’s with four, matched just two days prior. In a nine-run third, Stidham made two plate appearances and was the only Seminole to collect two hits in the inning. He hit a two-run single in his first at-bat and then an RBI infield single in his second at-bat. He hit a sacrifice fly RBI in the ninth to cap off his 10 RBI performance.
Belanger pitched the first complete-game of his two-year Southern Miss career and limited Houston to four hits, one walk and struck out eight batters to lead Southern Miss to a 6-0 victory over the Cougars in game one of the series at Cougar Field on Thursday night.
Belanger finished with 120 pitches, gave up one walk in the first inning, two hits in the third inning, one in the fourth inning and one in the eighth inning. Only one runner advanced to second base in the game and he retired the side in six of the nine innings. His eight strikeouts matched his season high that he collected against Kent State on March 16.
Fort Worth-based Pro-Line Athletic supplies the official cap to more than 100 Division I college teams and official uniforms and team wear to six Division 1 college teams. This is the third 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.prolineathletic.com.
