DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its weekly NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the period ending April 29th. Metro State junior outfielder Alex Schrupp is the National Hitter of the Week while St. Cloud State senior righthander Logan Birr is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Alex Schrupp (Parker, Colo.) made just two outs in 19 plate appearances over the weekend, batting 13-for-15 (.867) with three hit by pitches and a walk. He also scored seven runs and drove in two in four games. On Friday at Colorado Mines, he was 3-for-4 with a run scored and a hit by pitch. In Saturday's first game, he was 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, to go with a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt. In game two, he was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and was hit by a pitch twice. On Sunday, he was 4-for-5 with two runs and a walk. Over the four games, he raised his season batting average from .257 to .333.
Logan Birr (St. Cloud, Minn.) crafted his first collegiate no-hitter with a 9-0 complete game win over the University of Minnesota, Crookston on April 27. Birr carded 14 strikeouts after facing 24 batters in the game. He is now a perfect 8-0 this season and is holding opponents to a .177 batting average to go with a team-leading 62 strikeouts.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Atlantic: Ethan Santora, Mercyhurst (Hitter); Ryan Fenwick, Fairmont State (Pitcher)
· Central: Alex Schrupp, Metro State (Hitter); Logan Birr and Scott Lieser, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
· East: Eric Schlitter, Bridgeport (Hitter); John Yohe, Bentley (Pitcher)
· Midwest: Kevin Zak, Grand Valley State (Hitter); Donovan Drake, Indianapolis (Pitcher)
· South: Eric Deese, Alabama-Huntsville (Hitter); Ryan Gibbard, Lynn (Pitcher)
· South Central: Ryan Greer, Angelo State (Hitter); Chris Pfau, Lincoln (Pitcher)
· West: Danny Susdorf, UC San Diego (Hitter); Grady Wood, Western Oregon (Pitcher)
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.
2012 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Feb. 5: Chris Miller, Cal Poly Pomona (Hitter);
Rick Reyna, Angelo State (Pitcher)
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Feb. 12: Anthony Boza, Lynn (Hitter); Barry Meeks, West Alabama (Pitcher)
· Feb. 19: Joe Andrade, Dixie State (Hitter);
Brandon Droge, Newman (Pitcher)
· Feb.
26: Nate Wilder, Arkansas Tech (Hitter); Carl O'Neal, St. Mary's (Pitcher)
· March 4: Tommy Barnes, Nebraska-Kearney (Hitter);
Nolan Snell, Colorado Mesa (Pitcher)
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March 11: Drew Miller, Southwest Baptist (Hitter);
Dan McMahon, University of the Sciences (Pitcher)
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March 18: Heath Peterson, Montevallo (Hitter);
Chris Zbin, Southern Connecticut State (Pitcher)
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March 25: Areo Regoli, Nova Southeastern (Hitter);
Tim Flight, Southern New Hampshire (Pitcher)
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April 1: Tucker Brown, Central Oklahoma (Hitter);
Mark Royer, Millersville (Pitcher)
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April 8: James Roche, Franklin Pierce (Hitter); Derek Hansen, Augustana (Pitcher)
· April 15: Giancarlo Brugnoni, Grand Valley
State (Hitter); Colton Mitchell, Delta State (Pitcher)
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April 22: Scott Zuback, Lock Haven (Hitter);
Jaden Dillon, Texas A&M-Kingsville (Pitcher)
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April 29: Alex Schrupp, Metro State (Hitter);
Logan Birr, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
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May 6: Adam Shank, St. Edward's (Hitter);
Thomas Lee, Sonoma State (Pitcher)