DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its weekly NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending Feb. 23. Flagler infielder Andrew Brodbeck is the National Hitter of the Week while St. Mary's lefty Matt McClain is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Andrew Brodbeck (Palm Harbour, Fla.) Brodbeck was on fire for the Saints, hitting .600 with a 1.000 slugging percentage. The junior hit .526 in a three-game series against Georgia College, collecting all 12 of his RBIs for the week with a homer and two triples. He went 6-for-6 in the opener against Bobcats, tying a 27-year-old Flagler record for hits in a game and becoming only the seventh player in PBC history to collect six or more hits in a game (only the third to do so in a league game). He drove in seven runs in that contest with a triple and a home run. He tripled again in the second game, driving in two more and drove in three in the series finale. He also scored seven runs and had a .652 on-base percentage. Brodbeck currently leads the PBC in triples and is fourth in RBIs and total bases, ninth in slugging and 10th in home runs.
Matt McClain (San Antonio, Texas) pitched an incredible no-hitter this week, striking out 12 in a complete, nine-inning no-no against Rogers State who entered the series 6-1 with six players batting above .400. McClain had a perfect game going until the seventh inning when Rogers State drew two walks in their only base runners for the game. He then went on to strikeout five of his last six batters to record the Rattlers' first no-hitter in seven seasons and only the second in over a decade.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Atlantic: Joey Miller, Concord (Hitter); Chris Murphy, Millersville (Pitcher)
· Central: Phillip Wilson, Central Oklahoma (Hitter); Canyon Conley, Southeastern Oklahoma State (Pitcher)
· East: John Cruz, Dowling (Hitter); Paul Covelle, Franklin Pierce (Pitcher)
· Midwest: Zach Jacobs, Indianapolis (Hitter); Eann Cox, Lewis (Pitcher)
· South: Tyler Ding, Tampa (Hitter); Jamie Sexton, West Georgia (Pitcher)
· South Central: Omar Garcia, St. Mary's (Hitter); Matt McClain, St. Mary's (Pitcher)
· Southeast: Andrew Brodbeck, Flagler (Hitter); Garrett Hickman, UNC Pembroke (Pitcher)
· West: David Steininger, Cal State Dominguez Hills (Hitter); Cory Davis, San Francisco State (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.
2014 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Feb. 2: Nick Perez, St. Leo (Hitter); David Ward, Ouchita Baptist (Pitcher)
· Feb. 9: Jordan Edgerton, UNC Pembroke (Hitter); Daniel Barfield, Francis Marion (Pitcher)
· Feb. 16: Hunter Boose, GRU Augusta (Hitter); Jordan DeLorenzo, West Florida (Pitcher)
· Feb. 23: Andrew Brodbeck, Flagler (Hitter); Matt McClain, St. Mary's (Pitcher)
· March 2: Nick Kranick, Flagler (Hitter); Chris Murphy, Millersville (Pitcher)
· March 9: Josh Coker, Lincoln Memorial (Hitter); Brannon Easterling, St. Edward's (Pitcher)
· March 16: Seth Tressler, Mansfield (Hitter); Joe Axelson, Southwest Minnesota State (Pitcher)
· March 23: Colby Painter, Lander (Hitter); Dan Altavilla, Mercyhurst (Pitcher)
· March 30: Giancarlo Saia, Lander (Hitter); Matt Kastelic, Notre Dame (Ohio) (Pitcher)
· April 6: Will Kengor, Slippery Rock (Hitter); Jonathan Russell, Queens (Pitcher)
· April 13: Giancarlo Brugnoni, Grand Canyon (Hitter); Will Landsheft, Drury (Pitcher)
· April 20: Tony Viger, Augustana (Hitter); Ryan O'Connor, Bentley (Pitcher)
· April 27: Jordan Liester, Colorado Mesa (Hitter); Josh Eagle, Cal State Monterey Bay (Pitcher)
· May 4: Payton Reed, Drury (Hitter); Dan Altavilla, Mercyhurst (Pitcher)