FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
MORGANTOWN, W.Va – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending April 7, today. UNC Asheville senior catcher Ian Graham was named National Hitter of the Week, while Marshall junior right-handed pitcher Aaron Blair 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.
Graham, a senior from Marietta, Ga., extended his streak of reaching base to 32 games, while batting .524 in five starts last week. He recorded four multi-hit games, including a two home run game against Charlotte on April 6. For the week he went 11-for-21, with nine RBI and five runs scored. The catcher recorded two homers and two doubles, with three walks and one sacrifice fly. He posted a slugging percentage of .907, and an on-base percentage of .577 from the leadoff spot. Against mountain-rival Western Carolina on April 3, Graham tied a career-high five RBI against the Catamounts. The honor marks his first Big South Player of the Week nod this season
In a series-clinching win over No. 19 Houston, Blair struck out a season-high-tying 11 batters and walked one in an eight-inning two-hitter. He was given a run in the bottom of the second but battled against the recently red-hot Cougars with never more than the one-run lead. The right-hander’s 11 punchouts included five which he struck out looking. For the afternoon, Blair allowed just four base runners, and only once did Houston put more than one man on in a single inning. Houston batted 2-for-26 (.077) against Blair as the Las Vegas, Nev., native retired as many as 14 in a row in the victory. Blair kept the Cougars hitless (0-for-6) when they had runners on base.
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).
2013 WINNERS:
Hitter of the Week – Feb. 19 – Danny Collins,OF/IF, Troy; Feb. 26 – Charlie White, OF, Maryland; March 5 – A.J. Reed, 1B, Kentucky; March 12 – Cody Hudson, OF, Austin Peay; March 19 – Zach Fish, OF, Oklahoma State; March 26 – C.K. Irby, UT, Samford; April 2 – Mason Katz, 1B, LSU; April 9 – Ian Graham, C, UNC Asheville
Pitcher of the Week – Feb. 19 – Buck Farmer, RHP, Georgia Tech; Feb. 26 – Bryce Biggerstaff, Central Arkansas; March 5 – Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford; Carlos Rodon, LHP, NC State; March 12 – Frankie Vanderka, RHP, Stony Brook; March 19 – Pat Young, RHP, Villanova; March 26 – Ryan Kellogg, LHP, Arizona State; April 2 – Cole Irvin, LHP, Oregon; April 9 – Aaron Blair, RHP, Marshall
