DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending February 25. N.C. State junior outfielder Brett Kinneman was named National Hitter of the Week, while Washington junior right-handed pitcher Joe DeMers 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.
Kinneman hit a career-high five home runs during the week to take over the Atlantic Coast Conference lead in that category and tie for second nationally. The junior outfielder from York, Pa., hit for the home run cycle, hitting a grand slam on Tuesday, and a two-run and three-run homer on Friday before hitting solo home runs on Saturday and Sunday.
Kinneman tallied 15 RBI to lead the Wolfpack to a perfect 5-0 record during the week and take over the conference lead in total RBI with 17 for the season. Kinneman also scored seven runs, hit a triple and stole two bases. For the week, he was 13-of-21 to compile a .619 batting average at the plate and also made a few nice catches defensively. His 15 hits for the season ranks among the top 10 of the NCAA.
DeMers made history in game one of a doubleheader Saturday at Husky Ballpark throwing the first ever perfect game in Washington history and just the fifth by a Pac-12 pitcher. The Martinez, Calif., native needed 84 pitches to set all 27 UC Riverside batters down in order in the Huskies 8-0 victory.
He was efficient all night and threw over 10 pitches in just three innings, with a high of 13. In a four-inning span from the fourth to seventh, DeMers threw just 30 pitches. It allowed him to be relatively fresh when he arrived in the ninth inning.
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.
2018 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week:
Feb. 20: Jake Brodt, Santa Clara (Hitter); Nick Sandlin, Southern Miss (Pitcher)
· Feb. 27: Brett Kinneman, N.C. State (Hitter); Joe DeMers, Washington (Pitcher)
· March 6: Luke Heyer, Kentucky (Hitter); Payton Kinney, Omaha (Pitcher)
· March 13: Jacob Rhinesmith, Western Kentucky (Hitter); Casey Mize, Auburn (Pitcher)
· March 20: Joe Genord, USF (Hitter); Griffin Roberts, Wake Forest (Pitcher)
· March 27: Bren Spillane, Illinois (Hitter); Jake Lee, Oakland (Pitcher)
· April 3: Jon Littell, Oklahoma State (Hitter); Colton Eastman, Cal State Fullerton (Pitcher)
· April 10: Connor Pauly, Morehead State (Hitter); Scotty Sunitsch, Washington State (Pitcher)
· April 17: Ross Haffey, Miami, Ohio (Hitter); Noah Zavolas, Harvard (Pitcher)
· April 24: Josh Jung, Texas Tech and Steven Wells, Florida State (Hitter); Connor Van Hoose, Bucknell (Pitcher)
· May 1: Alex Holderbach, Eastern Kentucky (Hitter); Barrett Loseke, Arkansas (Pitcher)
· May 8: Adam Sasser, Georgia (Hitter); Haylen Green, TCU (Pitcher)
· May 15: Will Wilson, N.C. State (Hitter); Luke Heimlich, Oregon State (Pitcher)
· May 22: Will Holland, Auburn (Hitter); Sam Shutes, Toledo (Pitcher)
2018 NCBWA Division I Players of the Month:
February: Brett Kinneman, N.C. State (Player); Brady Feigl, Ole Miss (Pitcher)
· March: Seth Beer, Clemson (Player); Casey Mize, Auburn (Pitcher)
· April: Alex Holderbach, Eastern Kentucky (Player); Connor Thomas, Georgia Tech (Pitcher)
· May: Cal Raleigh, Florida State (Player); Logan Gilbert, Stetson (Pitcher)