DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending May 11. Cincinnati freshman infielder Connor McVey was named National Hitter of the Week, while Gardner-Webb junior right-handed pitcher Matt Fraudin 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.
McVey picks up Cincinnati's first Player of the Week honor after a spectacular offensive week. The Mason, Ohio, native led the team with an .800 batting average, collecting eight hits in 10 at bats over four games. He also tallied a 1.200 slugging percentage and an .824 on-base percentage with eight RBI, four walks and two runs scored. With his team trailing 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning against Toledo, McVey hit a go-ahead grand slam, his first-career-home run, to play hero in a 12-7 comeback victory. McVey is currently riding an eight-game hitting streak and has recorded multiple hits in six of those eight games.
Fraudin, a junior from Upper St. Clair, Pa., posted a complete game, one-hit shutout win over William & Mary on May 8. The right-hander held the nations No. 2 hitting team in check as he posted 11 strikeouts. He retired the first 19 batters he faced, including 10 via strikeouts. The top rated scoring offense in the nation managed just two base runners during the contest as Fraudin took a perfect game into the seventh inning. The honor is his first Big South Pitcher of the Week plaudit this season.
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.
2014 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week:
Feb. 16: Skyler Ewing, Rice (Hitter); Jeremy Null, East Carolina (Pitcher)
· Feb. 23: A.J. Reed, Kentucky (Hitter); Reed Garrett, VMI (Pitcher)
· March 2: Ryan Seiz, Liberty (Hitter); Jake Stinnett, Maryland (Pitcher)
· March 9: Mac James, Oklahoma (Hitter); Javi Salas, Miami (Pitcher)
· March 16: Nic Wilson, Georgia State (Hitter); Heath Dwyer, VCU (Pitcher)
· March 23: Michael Katz, William & Mary (Hitter); Frankie Vanderka, Stony Brook (Pitcher)
· March 30: Clint Freeman, East Tennessee State (Hitter); Matt Imhof, Cal Poly (Pitcher)
· April 6: A.J. Reed, Kentucky (Hitter); Nathan Kirby, Virginia (Pitcher)
· April 13: Mitchell Tolman, Oregon (Hitter); Jordan Carter, St. Joseph's (Pitcher)
· April 20: Byron Campbell, UMES (Hitter); Jeff Hoffman, East Carolina (Pitcher)
· April 27: Auston Bausfield, Ole Miss (Hitter); Thomas Eshelman, Cal State Fullerton (Pitcher)
· May 4: Casey Turgeon, Florida (Hitter); Jace Fry, Oregon State (Pitcher)
· May 11: Connor McVey, Cincinnati (Hitter); Matt Fraudin, Gardner-Webb (Pitcher)
· May 18: Kane Sweeney, Morehead State (Hitter); Ben Wetzler, Oregon State (Pitcher)