NCBWA NAMES PRO-LINE ATHLETICNATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released the Pro-Line Athletic National Player of the Week awards for the period ending April 25.


North Dakota junior first baseman Jake Magner was named National Hitter of the Week, while Eastern Michigan sophomore right-handed pitcher Kendall Lewis 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.


Magner set school records for home runs and RBI in a single game as he went 4-for-6 with four home runs and nine RBI to lead the Sioux to a thrilling 20-19 victory in game two of a Saturday doubleheader against New York Tech. Two of his four home runs in the contest were three-run shots and he opened the scoring with a solo blast in the first.


The Grand Rapids, Minn., native finished the doubleheader with six home runs and 13 RBIs, going 7-for-10 with seven runs scored in the two games. His five runs in the nightcap tied a UND record and he was the first player in DI this season to hit four homers in a game. For the series against NYIT, Magner hit .556 (10-for-18), scored 10 runs, hit six homers and drove in 14 runs.


Lewis had a record setting performance in the Eagles' 1-0 victory over Western Michigan, April 24, as he went 11 innings, giving up just three hits and one walk, while striking out a career-high 10 batters in the shutout win. The Huntsville, Ohio native's 11-inning outing is the longest by any pitcher in the nation this season.


Pro-Line Athletic, owned by Badger Sport, supplies the cap and uniforms to several Division I college teams. This is the sixth 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 or Badger Sports, visit their Web sites at prolineathletic.com and badgersport.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 on the Pro-Line Athletic Players of the Week, contact NCBWA Assistant Executive Director Mike Montoro at West Virginia University at 304-293-2821.


2010 Pro-Line Athletic Players of the Week:

Feb. 23: Zack MacPhee, Arizona State (Hitter);
Matt Bywater, Pepperdine (Pitcher)


· March 2: Brian Fletcher, Auburn (Hitter); Jason
Mitchell, Texas-Arlington (Pitcher)


· March 9: Mark Micowski, Georgia State (Hitter);
Michael Goodnight, Houston (Pitcher)


· March 16: Pat Biserta, Rutgers (Hitter); Billy
Barber, Richmond (Pitcher)


· March 23: Hunter Morris, Auburn (Hitter); Teddy
Kaufman, USF (Pitcher)


· March 30: Mark Castellitto, Gonzaga (Hitter);
Randy Fontanez, USF (Pitcher)


· April 6: Austin Wates, Virginia Tech (Hitter);
Andrew Barbosa, USF (Pitcher)


· April 13: Steve McQuail, Canisius (Hitter); Greg
Gonzalez, Fresno State (Pitcher)


· April 20: Drew Lee, Morehead State (Hitter); Cole
Green, Texas (Pitcher)


· April 27: Jake Magner, North Dakota (Hitter);
Kendall Lewis, Eastern Michigan (Pitcher)


· May 4: Preston Springer, Wichita State (Hitter);
Justin LaTempa, Oregon (Pitcher)


· May 11: Grant Buckner, West Virginia (Hitter);
Kyle Blair, San Diego (Pitcher)


· May 18: Tony Nix, UC Riverside (Hitter); C.J.
Huyett, Old Dominion (Pitcher)


· May 25: Darnell Sweeney, UCF (Hitter); Andrew
Foushee, Presbyterian (Pitcher)