CHICAGO (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers
Association (NCBWA) released its National Hitter and Pitcher of the
Week awards for the period ending March 28.
Vanderbilts sophomore second baseman Warner Jones has been named
National Hitter of the Week, while Creighton senior RHP Steve Grasley
and junior RHP Jered Weaver were named National Co-Pitchers of the
Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference
each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Jones owned a .737 batting average in four games, helping lead Vanderbilt
to a 4-0 record for the week, including a 3-0 sweep over No. 24 Georgia.
He went 14-19 at the plate with six doubles, one triple and one home run.
He was also 1-1 in stolen bases. The Nashville, Tenn., native extended his
consecutive game hitting streak to 30 games and set the school record in
game one vs. Georgia (28). He is one hit shy of tying the SEC record in
consecutive seasons (31 by Rex Buckner of Mississippi State 1992-93).
Down 5-3 to the Bulldogs in Game 3, Jones cleared the bases with a three-run
double to center field giving VU its first lead of the game, 6-5. In the
Georgia series, Jones went 10-14 for a .714 batting average with five doubles,
one triple and seven RBI.
Grasley, Creighton's closer turned ace starter, turned in an outstanding
performance in the MVC opener against SMS. He pitched a 10-inning complete-game,
three-hit shutout as the Bluejays defeated the defending regular season
champions and 2003 College World Series participants in the Bears, 2-0 in
10 innings.
The Shoreview, Minn., native, struck out a season-high 12, just two shy
of his career high, and walked just two in throwing 121 pitches over the
10 innings. He had a no-hitter through five innings and also faced the minimum
through five before allowing a leadoff single in the sixth. Only two runners
advanced beyond first base, both coming with two outs and both were quickly
stranded.
Grasley set down the side in order in seven of the 10 innings, with a
double play aiding him in the fifth after he walked the leadoff man. With
the win, Grasley lowered his ERA to 2.44, a team best, and also won his
fourth straight decision to improve to 5-2 He leads the team in wins, ERA,
strikeouts (48), and innings pitched (48), while opposing hitters are batting
just .223 off him.
Weaver tied LBSU's single-game record for strikeouts, striking out 16
of a possible 18 outs. He struck out the first five before being broken
up by one of two singles given up. The Simi Valley, Calif., natives first
11 outs were by strikeouts, as well as 13 of first 14. A foul popup to first
and a caught stealing was the only other damage for the All-American.
He had 95 pitches of which 65 were strikes. He now has 21.0 consecutive
scoreless innings and is 8-0 with a 0.64 ERA over 56.2 IP, striking out
89 and walking eight with opponents batting .118.
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-American awards, publication and writing contests.
2004 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week:
• Feb. 10: Josh Brady, Texas Tech (Hitter); Jered
Weaver, Long Beach State (Pitcher)
• Feb. 17: Seth Johnston, Texas (Hitter); David Purcey, Oklahoma (Pitcher)
• Feb. 24: Brian Bixley, Eastern Michigan (Hitter); Adam Gold,
California and Jason Urquidez, Arizona State (Pitcher)
• March 2: Sean Gaston, Notre Dame and Jed Lowrie, Stanford (Hitter);
Derek Duclos, Richmond and Derek Hankins, Memphis (Pitcher)
• March 9: Ryan Frith, Southern Miss and Stephen Head, Ole Miss (Hitter);
Clay Dirks, LSU and Jim Ripley, Kansas State (Pitcher)
• March 16: Connor Robertson, Birmingham-Southern (Hitter); Cliff Russum,
Southern Miss (Pitcher)
• March 23: Jonathan Batts, UNC Wilmington and Rielly Embrey, San Diego
State (Hitter); Jarame Beaupre, Delaware and Matt Daley, Bucknell (Pitcher)
• March 30: Warner Jones, Vanderbilt (Hitter); Steve Grasley, Creighton
and Jered Weaver, Long Beach State (Pitcher)
• April 6: Grant Richardson, Washington State (Hitter); Dennis Bigley,
Oral Roberts (Pitcher)
• April 13: Brad Corley, Mississippi State (Hitter); Brian Bogusevic,
Tulane (Pitcher)
• April 20: Todd Kimling, Eastern Michigan and Daniel Stovall, New Mexico
(Hitter); Tim Layden, Duke and J.P. Howell, Texas (Pitcher)
• April 27: Nic Crosta, Santa Clara and Richard Gianotto, Miami (Hitter);
Matt Campbell, South Carolina and Zack Zuercher, Rhode Island (Pitcher)
• May 4: Brian Hall, Stanford and Kurt Suzuki, Cal State
Fullerton (Hitter); Zac Cline, West Virginia and Arik Hempy, South Carolina (Pitcher)
• May 11: Justin Holmes, Georgia and Lee McLean, UNC Wilmington
(Hitter); Tim Lincecum, Washington and Jered Weaver, Long Beach State (Pitcher)
• May 18: Steve Cavarati, Ohio State and Eric Nielsen, UNLV (Hitter);
Mike Rogers and Vern Sterry, N.C. State (Pitcher)
• May 25: Josh Ford, Baylor and Andy Hudak, Bowling Green (Hitter);
Greg Bunn, East Carolina and Jason Windsor, Cal State Fullerton (Pitcher)