It was a week of “R & R” as catcher J.D. Rotzoll of Concordia University (Ill.) and southpaw Josh Roiger of Hamline University earned the NCAA Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week awards for the week of April 21-27, 2008, the eighth of the season, as chosen by members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Rotzoll, a senior from Mount Prospect, Ill., batted .565 (13-23) during the Cougars’ 4-2 week (4-0 in Northern Athletics Conference play). Nine of his 13 hits were for extra bases, with three doubles and six home runs. He homered in every game except one and hit two in a game against 19th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan. His slugging percentage was a whopping 1.478, and his on-base was .655. He scored 10 runs, had nine RBIs, drew four walks and was hit by pitches twice. He also fielded flawlessly in 46 chances. His hitting led the team to 51 runs and helped them move into third place with a 14-6 NAC record (27-10 overall). He is now hitting a team-leading .425 in 36 games on the season, and leads the team in hits (62), doubles (18), homers (10) and slugging percentage (.795). Rotzoll was the Northern Athletics Conference Player of the Week.
Roiger, a senior from West St. Paul, Minn., led the Pipers to a doubleheader road sweep of 13th-ranked St. Thomas (Minn.), coming in from left field for a save in the seventh inning of the opener, then returning to the mound to pitch a complete-game shutout in game two. While facing the minimum number of batters in the seventh inning in the game one 6-5 win, he struck out two and gave up one hit. In the 4-0 shutout in game two, Roiger walked none and gave up just four hits, none with runners on base, and had six strikeouts. The sweep over St. Thomas on their field marked the first time that the Tommies were swept in an MIAC doubleheader in six seasons, covering 62 doubleheaders, and was the first time St. Thomas was swept at home in 10 years. Roiger was the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.
Honorable Mention Hitters: Eric Boylan (Thiel) – .567 (17-30), 8 doubles, 4 home runs, 19 RBI, 15 runs, 1.233 slugging pct.; Chris Burleson (Southern Maine) – .462 (12-26), 1 double, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 14 RBI, 17 runs, 1.154 slugging pct.; Chris Blight (Scranton) – .636 (14-22), 2 doubles 1 triple, 3 home runs, 12 RBI, 14 runs, 1.227 slugging pct.; Tyler Jones (St. Olaf) – .700 (14-20), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 8 RBI, 8 runs, 3 steals, .900 slugging pct.; Chris Nastasi (John Jay) – .619 (13-21), 4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 12 RBI, 14 runs, 2 steals, 1.048 slugging pct.; Billy Johnson (Wisconsin-Whitewater) – .586 (17-29), 6 doubles, 1 triple, 14 RBI, 12 runs, .862 slugging pct.
Honorable Mention Pitchers: Joe Bartlinski (Kean) – 1-0, 0.00, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 3 hits, 5 strikeouts; Sam Heaps (Elizabethtown) – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 2 hits, 9 strikeouts; Mike Kloss (North Central) – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 2 hits, 9 strikeouts; Dave Filak (SUNY-Oneonta) – 1-0, 2 saves, 1.13 ERA, 8.0 ip, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts; Jeremy Rogoff (Washington MO) – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 ip, 4 hits, 14 strikeouts; Zeb Ingle (Ursinus) – 1-0, 0.79 ERA, 11.1 ip, 15 strikeouts; Adam Dominick (Wisconsin-Whitewater) – 2-0, 1.76 ERA, 15.1 ip, 1 cg, 9 hits, 21 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.
2008 Winners:
Mar. 3-9 Hitter of the Week: Brad Broussard (Ozarks)
Pitcher of the Week: Joe Bartlinski (Kean)
Mar. 10-16 Hitter of the Week: Brent Voorhees (McMurry)
Pitcher of the Week: Ryan Kulik (Rowan)
Mar. 17-23 Hitter of the Week: Drew Hedman (Pomona-Pitzer)
Pitcher of the Week: Drew Campbell (Kean)
Mar. 24-30 Hitter of the Week: Derek Gianakas (Kean)
Pitcher of the Week: Lonnie Robinson (St. Thomas MN)
Mar. 31-Apr. 6 Hitter of the Week: Derek David (McMurry)
Pitcher of the Week: Matt Tone (SUNY-Cortland)
Apr. 7-13 Hitter of the Week: Steve DeBarberie (Alvernia)
Pitcher of the Week: Bryon Mendenhall (Randolph-Macon)
Apr. 14-20 Hitter of the Week: Ricky Angel (Illinois Wesleyan)
Pitcher of the Week: Jeremy Rubens (Wisconsin-Oshkosh)
Apr. 21-27 Hitter of the Week: J.D. Rotzoll (Concordia IL)
Pitcher of the Week: Josh Roiger (Hamline)
