FROM NCBWA RELEASE
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released the Pro-Line Athletic National Player of the Week awards for the period ending April 12, today. Oral Roberts senior shortstop Juan Martinez was named National Hitter of the Week, while Kent State junior right-handed pitcher Brad Stillings was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Martinez went 13-for-22 at the plate for a .591 batting average in five games last week with five home runs and 19 RBI. Martinez posted two walk-off hits and also drew six walks and scored eight runs while slugging 1.273. The Bakersfield, Calif., native went 4-for-4 against Dallas Baptist with two home runs, including a two-run dinger in the top of the ninth inning to close the game to 5-4. The following night, he hit two two-run homers, including the game-winner in the 10th inning against UT-Arlington. On Friday night against South Dakota State, Martinez slapped a single through the left side for the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th inning. He recorded a 4-for-6 performance in the first game against South Dakota State on Saturday with eight RBI. The senior slugged two home runs in the game, including a grand slam.
On Friday (April 10), Stillings became the ninth pitcher (10th time overall) in school history to throw a no-hitter during a 1-0 win over Toledo. The Washington Courthouse, Ohio, native finished with nine strikeouts and no walks as he faced only 29 batters in the contest. Stillings, who only threw 111 pitches in the game, allowed only two batters to reach base via a hit batsman and an error.
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 fifth 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 Web site at: www.prolineathletic.com .
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association’s official Web site, www.ncbwa.com .
For more information, contact NCBWA Assistant Executive Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).
