DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week awards presented by The Game Headwear for the period ending April 14. Georgia redshirt sophomore third baseman Charlie Condon was named National Hitter of the Week, while Texas A&M junior right-handed pitcher Chris Cortez was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Condon recorded an SEC-best 24 total bases, four home runs, 10 RBI, 11 hits and eight runs scored in helping Georgia go 3-1 last week including a series win over Missouri. The Marietta, Georgia, native batted an SEC-best .647 (11-for-17) for the week including .615 (8-for-13) with three home runs and eight RBI in weekend series. Condon is the NCAA leader in home runs (24), slugging (1.109) and total bases (152) and is second in batting (.482), hits (66) and on base percentage (.586).
Condon leads the nation in home runs (24), total bases (152) and slugging percentage (1.109) plus ranks second in batting average (.482), on-base percentage (.586) and hits (66). In his two-year career, covering 92 games, Condon is batting .424 with 49 home runs and 119 RBI. His 49 home runs rank third most in school history, trailing Gordon Beckham, who set the mark with 53 in 197 games from 2006-08 and Josh Morris, who hit 51 in 190 games from 2004-06.
Cortez, who earned his first career weekly honor, was brilliant in relief for Texas A&M as the junior tossed 8.1 scoreless innings, struck out a league-best 15 batters and logged a 2-0 record. In Tuesday's win over UTSA, the Las Vegas, Nevada, native struck out seven over four scoreless frames as the Aggies completed the comeback. On Sunday, the junior calmed the early surge from No. 6 Vanderbilt and delivered 4.1 scoreless innings to go along with a career-high tying eight strikeouts. Cortez also only allowed three hits and two walks in his two appearances.
The two victories improved Cortez to 5-1 on the year and lowered his ERA to 2.32. The junior also upped his strikeout total to 47 in only 31 innings.
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, contact NCBWA Executive Associate Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).