NCBWA NAMES DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) A solid week with the stick by Jay Slick of Bethel University (Minn.) and a big pair of conference wins by Dave Filak of the State University of New York-Oneonta have earned the talented twosome NCAA Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week honors for the eighth week of 2010, covering games of April 19-25, as voted on by a panel of D-III members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.


Slick, a sophomore catcher from River Falls, Wis., was a tough out last week as he reached base in 15 of his 20 plate appearances, batting .722 (13-for-18) with two doubles, a triple, three home runs, and a 1.422 slugging percentage. He also stole a base, scored eight runs, and drove in 13. On Tuesday against Northwestern (Minn.), he was 5-for-5 with two runs, four RBI, a double, and a home run in Bethel 's 14-2 win. He became the first Royal to earn five hits in one game in almost five years. On Wednesday against St. Olaf, he had a hit in each game, including a two-RBI triple in the first game and an RBI single in the second game. On Sunday, the All-MIAC catcher was a collective 6-for-7 with six runs, six RBI, a double, and two home runs against Gustavus Adolphus in Bethel 's doubleheader sweep of the Gusties. He raised his batting average 65 points and has now hit safely in all but two conference games. Slick was named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Week.


Filak, a junior right-hander from Burnt Hills , N.Y. , helped lead Oneonta to a 6-1 record by recording two wins in his two starts. In a 4-1 win over nationally-ranked SUNY-Cortland, he scattered seven hits in a nine-inning complete game, striking out 14 and walking on ly one. The loss was Cortland 's only defeat in SUNYAC play this year. He came back on Saturday and shut down SUNY-New Paltz, striking out nine and walking three in seven innings, spacing five hits and allowing only two runs in an eventual 11-6 win in the first game of a key conference doubleheader. Fro the week, he posted a 1.69 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 16 innings. Filak was named the State University of New York Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.


Honorable mention hitters: Luke Leftwich (East Texas Baptist) - .643 (9-14), 1 double, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 12 RBI, 8 runs, 1.714 slugging pct.; Regan Dixon (Hardin-Simmons) - .611 (11-18), 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 11 RBI, 5 runs, 1.222 slugging pct.; Tom Higgins (Benedictine IL) - .692 (9-13), 4 doubles, 7 RBI, 1.000 slugging pct.; Brock Gates (Pacific Lutheran) - .700 (7-10), 2 doubles, 1 home run, 5 RBI, 6 runs, 1.200 slugging pct.; Phil Keefe (Case Western Reserve) - .667 (10-15), 1 double, 2 triples, 6 RBI, 2 runs, 1.000 slugging pct.; Joe Pierce (Augsburg) - .529 (9-17), 1 double, 2 RBI, 4 runs, .588 slugging pct., 31-game hitting streak; Brian Youchak (Johns Hopkins) - .647 (11-17), 3 home runs, 8 RBI, 8 runs, 1.176 slugging pct.; Andersen Gardner (SUNY-Cortland) - .545 (12-22), 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 12 RBI, 8 runs, 1.045 slugging pct.; Dan Moreno (Ramapo) - .520 (13-25), 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 RBI, 10 runs, .960 slugging pct.


Honorable mention pitchers: Chris Bloch (Transylvania) - 1-0, 1.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 1 hit, 6 strikeouts; Jeremy Chapman (Mitchell) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 ip, 1 cg, 2 hits, 11 strikeouts; Joe Hriber (Mount Aloysius) - 0-0, 3 saves, 0.00 ERA, 6.2 ip, 4 hits, 6 strikeouts; Craig Silva (Salve Regina) - 1-0, 1 save, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 ip, 1 cg, 5 hits, 12 strikeouts; Jeremy Rogoff (Washington-St. Louis) - 0-1, 4.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 8 hits, 15 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.


2010 NCBWA Division III Players of the Week:

March 7: Joseph Villegas, Mary Hardin-Baylor
(Hitter); Ryan McDonough, Lynchburg (Pitcher)


· March 14: Justin Franklin, Ferrum and Jeff
Butera, Haverford (Hitter); James Murrey, Macalester (Pitcher)


· March 21: Michael Cassese, Rutgers-Newark
(Hitter); Paul Uhl, Thomas More and Billy Schmitt, Wartburg (Pitcher)


· March 28: Jeff Scafidi, Anna Maria (Hitter);
Tim Smith, Nichols (Pitcher)


· April 4: Jack Cinoman, Chicago (Hitter); Tim
Kriegel, Hardin-Simmons (Pitcher)


· April 11: Todd Keneborous, St. Joseph's (Hitter);
Steve Locke, College at Brockport (Pitcher)


· April 18: Steve Nickel, Cortland State (Hitter);
Matthew Greene, Castleton State (Pitcher)


· April 25: Jay Slick, Bethel (Hitter); Dave
Filak, SUNY-Oneonta (Pitcher)


· May 2: Chris Jarrett, Anderson (Hitter); Matt
Schuld, St. Thomas (Pitcher)


· May 9: Jay Slick, Bethel and Jacob Millen,
Moravian (Hitter); Matt Schuld, St. Thomas (Pitcher)