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 24. Samford junior designated hitter/pitcher C.K. Irby was named National Hitter of the Week, while Arizona State freshman left-handed pitcher Ryan Kellogg 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.


In four games last week, Irby hit .562 with a pair of home runs, six RBI and eight runs scored. On the mound, the junior righty threw a complete-game three-hitter, striking out 16 and not walking a batter in a win over Furman on Friday.


At the plate, Irby had at least one hit in each contest. He started his week with a 1-for-3 showing with a solo home run against Alabama. The Florence, Ala., native then went 8-for-13 (.615) in a three-game sweep of the Paladins over the weekend. In game one of Fridays doubleheader, Irby was 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, his second in as many games and fifth of the season, as the Bulldogs picked up the 9-1 win. Irby was also the starting pitcher in that contest, facing the minimum through the first three innings and scattering three hits. A leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth accounted for the only run Irby allowed in the contest. His 16 strikeouts were the most by a SoCon pitcher this season and tied the school record set by Josh Ehmke on May 13, 2006, at Tennessee Tech.


Kellogg recorded the ninth no-hitter in school history to lead Arizona State to a 4-0 win over No. 3 Oregon State on Saturday. He completed ASU's first no-hitter since Feb. 2, 1993, the school's first ever in Pac-10/12 conference play, the second ever on the road and the fourth by a freshman.


Kellogg did not allow a walk in 110 pitches as OSU's only two base runners of the game reached on Sun Devil errors. He carried a perfect game into the seventh inning and struck out three batters.


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)