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 March 20, today. Samford junior first baseman Saxon Butler was named National Hitter of the Week, while Stony Brook freshman right-hander Frankie Vanderka 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.
Butler batted .429 (9-for-21) with two doubles, two grand slams and 10 RBI in helping lead Samford to a 4-1 record in five games last week. The Oxford, Ala., native was a combined 6-for-13 with a double, two grand slams and eight RBI in the Bulldogs’ SoCon series win over Georgia Southern. He also went 3-for-8 with a double and two RBI in a pair of midweek wins over UAB. Friday’s grand slam proved to be the game-winner as it came in the bottom of the eighth inning with Samford trailing GSU, 4-1. The Bulldogs ran their winning streak to seven games before falling to the Eagles in Sunday’s series finale.
Vanderka has quickly made his presence felt on an already talented pitching staff, throwing the first no-hitter in Stony Brook history Friday evening against NJIT. The Levittown, N.Y., native threw a complete nine-inning effort, striking out 13 and walking just two. His 13 k’s are the most recorded by an America East pitcher since teammate Nick Tropeano also struck out 13 on March 20, 2010. Vanderka was tagged for just one unearned run in the Seawolves’ 14-1 triumph. The rookie has an ERA of 0.52 and opposing batting average of .125 in four appearances this season.
Pro-Line Athletic, owned by Badger Sport, supplies caps and uniforms to several D-1 college baseball teams and this is the seventh season Pro-Line has sponsored the NCBWA’s Players of the Week. For more information about Pro-Line and Badger, visit their web sites at: www.badgersport.com and www.prolinecap.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 Executive Assistant Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).
2011 WINNERS:
Pro-Line Athletic Hitter of the Week – Feb. 22 – David Herbek, SS, James Madison; March 1 – Corben Green, INF, Louisiana-Monroe; March 7 – Anthony Trajano, INF, Cal State Fullerton; March 14 – Dusty Quattlebaum, 1B/DH, Gardner-Webb; March 21 – Saxon Butler, 1B, Samford.
Pro-Line Athletic Pitcher of the Week – Feb. 22 – Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Texas; March 1 – Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia; March 7 – Kyle Fitzpatrick, RHP, Florida International; March 14 – Logan Verrett, RHP, Baylor; March 21 – Frankie Vanderka, RHP, Stony Brook.
