CHICAGO (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers
Association (NCBWA) released its National Hitter and Pitcher of the
Week awards for the period ending March 14.
Birmingham-Southerns senior 1B/3B/RHP Connor Robertson has been
named National Hitter of the Week, while Southern Miss· junior RHP Cliff
Russum 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.
Robertson batted .647 (11-for-17) with four HR, 13 RBI, two doubles,
a triple, three stolen bases and scored eight runs in four games last week.
He also recorded a win and a save in a combined 2.1 innings of relief pitching.
He posted a slugging percentage of 1.588. In a three-game series versus
Austin Peay, Robertson hit .750 (9-for-12) with 4 HR, 10 RBI, eight runs
scored, and a slugging pct. of 1.917. In 2.1 innings on the mound this week,
the Tuscaloosa, Ala., native allowed no runs, a hit, and struck out three
while earning a win over Toledo and a save in Saturday's 7-6 win over Austin
Peay.
Russum threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in Conference USA history
on Saturday against Eastern Illinois. He struck out a career-high 15 batters
and walked just three. The Hattiesburg, Miss., native retired 13 consecutive
batters from the third inning through one out in the seventh. After giving
up a walk in the seventh inning, he closed out the game by retiring the
final eight batters. It was the sixth no-hitter in Southern Miss history,
and the first nine-inning no-hitter since former Oakland Raider all-pro
punter Ray Guy accomplished the feat in 1972.
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-American awards, publication and writing contests.
2004 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week:
• Feb. 10: Josh Brady, Texas Tech (Hitter); Jered
Weaver, Long Beach State (Pitcher)
• Feb. 17: Seth Johnston, Texas (Hitter); David Purcey, Oklahoma (Pitcher)
• Feb. 24: Brian Bixley, Eastern Michigan (Hitter); Adam Gold,
California and Jason Urquidez, Arizona State (Pitcher)
• March 2: Sean Gaston, Notre Dame and Jed Lowrie, Stanford (Hitter);
Derek Duclos, Richmond and Derek Hankins, Memphis (Pitcher)
• March 9: Ryan Frith, Southern Miss and Stephen Head, Ole Miss (Hitter);
Clay Dirks, LSU and Jim Ripley, Kansas State (Pitcher)
• March 16: Connor Robertson, Birmingham-Southern (Hitter); Cliff Russum,
Southern Miss (Pitcher)
• March 23: Jonathan Batts, UNC Wilmington and Rielly Embrey, San Diego
State (Hitter); Jarame Beaupre, Delaware and Matt Daley, Bucknell (Pitcher)
• March 30: Warner Jones, Vanderbilt (Hitter); Steve Grasley, Creighton
and Jered Weaver, Long Beach State (Pitcher)
• April 6: Grant Richardson, Washington State (Hitter); Dennis Bigley,
Oral Roberts (Pitcher)
• April 13: Brad Corley, Mississippi State (Hitter); Brian Bogusevic,
Tulane (Pitcher)
• April 20: Todd Kimling, Eastern Michigan and Daniel Stovall, New Mexico
(Hitter); Tim Layden, Duke and J.P. Howell, Texas (Pitcher)
• April 27: Nic Crosta, Santa Clara and Richard Gianotto, Miami (Hitter);
Matt Campbell, South Carolina and Zack Zuercher, Rhode Island (Pitcher)
• May 4: Brian Hall, Stanford and Kurt Suzuki, Cal State
Fullerton (Hitter); Zac Cline, West Virginia and Arik Hempy, South Carolina (Pitcher)
• May 11: Justin Holmes, Georgia and Lee McLean, UNC Wilmington
(Hitter); Tim Lincecum, Washington and Jered Weaver, Long Beach State (Pitcher)
• May 18: Steve Cavarati, Ohio State and Eric Nielsen, UNLV (Hitter);
Mike Rogers and Vern Sterry, N.C. State (Pitcher)
• May 25: Josh Ford, Baylor and Andy Hudak, Bowling Green (Hitter);
Greg Bunn, East Carolina and Jason Windsor, Cal State Fullerton (Pitcher)