NCBWA NAMES DIVISION INATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending April 20. Maryland-Eastern Shore senior outfielder Byron Campbell was named National Hitter of the Week, while East Carolina junior right-handed pitcher Jeff Hoffman 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.


Campbell went 11-for-16 (.687) with 13 RBI, four runs scored, three doubles, two walks and two home runs last week. His finest performances came Sunday with a 4-for-5 game against Delaware State where he scored two runs, doubled and homered, and ultimately drove in five runs. The effort raised Campbell's average to .381 from .333 in four games, with two home runs and 24 RBI's on the season.


Hoffman struck out a career-best 16 batters, while walking one and allowing three hits over eight scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over Middle Tennessee on April 17. To go along with his 2014 C-USA best 16 strikeouts, the right-hander from Latham, N.Y. recorded four fly ball outs and four ground outs, while retiring 10 of the final 11 batters he faced. Hoffman was impressive from the outset, setting down the side in order in the first inning as well as the fourth, sixth and seventh stanzas. In the second inning he recorded three strikeouts and two innings later (fourth) accomplished the feat once again. In all, Hoffman struck out at least one hitter in all eight innings and multiple batters in six innings. His 16 total strikeouts tied for the second-most in C-USA history and ranked fifth all-time at East Carolina. Hoffman allowed just two runners to reach second base, allowing a double in the third and an error allowed a runner to reach second in the fifth.


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)