DALLAS (NCBWA) Manchester University senior Chad Schultz and Blackburn University sophomore Jonathon Stepp were named Division III National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Hitter and Pitcher of the Week for the period of March 20-26.
Schultz, an outfielder from Fair Oaks, Ind., had a monstrous run at the plate during the span, hitting five home runs as part of a meteoric .524 batting average and 1.286 slugging percentage to lead the Black and Gold to wins over Heidelberg and Mt. St. Joseph University. The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference's Hitter of the Week also resumed a personal base-reaching string of 12 successive outings and finished with 10 putouts in center field.
Stepp, a left-handed pitcher from Georgetown, Texas, became the first pitcher in Beaver baseball history to record a no-hitter. Stepp went seven innings in a 7-0 win over Eureka, allowing no hits while walking just one batter and striking out six.
Honorable Mention Hitter: Ray Vogel (Jr., INF, Eureka): Put together back to back four-hit games while hitting .667 with four home runs and nine runs batted in on the week. He finished 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI against Division I Bradley University, which followed a 4-for-5, 2 home run and 4 RBI game against Blackburn. On the week Vogel was 8-for-12 at the plate and added four runs scored.
Honorable Mention Pitchers: Troy Terzi (Jr., RHP, Keystone): Compiled a complete game shutout March 21 and allowed just two hits to lead Keystone to a 6-0 victory at #25 Kean. The junior righty allowed just one walk and one extra-base hit while striking out seven batters in the dominating performance against the Cougars; Nolan Watson (Sr., RHP, Occidental): Threw the 20th no-hitter in school history, as Oxy beat CMS 16-0 March 24. He struck out six, as only four Stags reached base during the seven-inning contest.
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 Dick Howser Player of the Year Award, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.