NCBWA NAMES DIVISION INATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending March 3. Kentucky sophomore first baseman A.J. Reed was named National Hitter of the Week, while Stanford senior left-handed pitcher Mark Appel and N.C. State sophomore right-hander Carlos Rodon 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.


Reed drove in 15 runs during the week, belting three home runs and adding a double. He hit .526 (10-for-19) during the week, with a 1.053 slugging and a .609 on-base percentage. He went 4-for-5 in the opener vs. Akron, with five RBI and his second homer of the week. The Terre Haute, Ind., native started the opener vs. Akron on the mound, tossing six innings and allowing only two runs on six hits and two walks, striking out four.


Appel, the Houston, Texas, native, tossed a three-hitter last Friday against No. 22 Texas, while the Cardinal posted a 2-0 shutout win. He matched a career-high 14 strikeouts and walked one. The first-inning walk was followed by the retiring of the next 13 batters. Appel took a no-hitter into the sixth against the Longhorns and set the tone for Stanford's series sweep. The All-American has struck out double-digit batters in each of his last two outings.


Rodon allowed two hits and struck out a career-high 16 batters in seven innings of the Wolfpack's 2-1 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday. The Holly Springs, N.C., native, exploded out of the gate by striking out eight of the first nine batters he faced. The first time through the Florida Atlantic order, the Owls only managed to put one ball in play, a bunt attempt in the top of the first. Rodon took a no-hit bid into the sixth, where it was broken up by a one-out single to left. Rodon followed with his 15th strikeout, which briefly stood as his career high. Two batters later a two-hopper squirted through the right side to represent only his second hit allowed in his last 55 batters faced. Rodon followed that hit by punctuating his performance with his 16th strikeout of the game.


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 NCBWA Division I National Players of the Week, contact NCBWA Assistant Executive Director Mike Montoro at West Virginia University at 304-293-2821.


2013 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week:

Feb. 19: Danny Collins, Troy (Hitter); Buck Farmer, Georgia Tech (Pitcher)

· Feb. 26: Charlie White, Maryland (Hitter); Bryce Biggerstaff, Central Arkansas (Pitcher)

· March 5: A.J. Reed, Kentucky (Hitter); Mark Appel, Stanford and Carlos Rodon, N.C. State
(Pitcher)


· March 12: Cody Hudson, Austin Peay (Hitter); Frankie Vanderka, Stony Brook (Pitcher)

· March 19: Zach Fish, Oklahoma State (Hitter); Pat Young, Villanova (Pitcher)

· March 26: C.K. Irby, Samford (Hitter); Ryan Kellogg, Arizona State (Pitcher)

· April 2: Mason Katz, LSU (Hitter); Cole Irvin, Oregon (Pitcher)

· April 9: Ian Graham, UNC Asheville (Hitter); Aaron Blair, Marshall (Pitcher)

· April 16: Colin Moran, North Carolina (Hitter); Cale Elam, Wichita State (Pitcher)

· April 23: Colby Roberts, James Madison (Hitter); Harrison Musgrave, West Virginia (Pitcher)

· April 30: Trey Mancini, Notre Dame (Hitter); Matt Florer, Loyola Marymount (Pitcher)

· May 7: Mitchell Tolman, Oregon (Hitter); Aaron Nola, LSU (Pitcher)

· May 14: D.J. Stewart, Florida State (Hitter); Harrison Musgrave, West Virginia (Pitcher)

· May 21: Duncan McAlpine, Dallas Baptist (Hitter); Shane Carle, Long Beach State and Andrew Moore, Oregon State (Pitcher)