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 Feb. 22. UCLA junior outfielder Will Gasparino was named National Hitter of the Week, while Arkansas junior left-handed pitcher Colin Fisher and Oregon State sophomore right-handed pitcher Dax Whitney were named National Co-Pitchers of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Gasparino enjoyed one of the most complete and explosive weeks in the young Division I season, going 7-for-13 with five home runs, 13 RBIs, 23 total bases, seven runs scored, four walks and two hit-by-pitches while anchoring the Bruins' sweep of No. 7 TCU. The Los Angeles, California, native delivered a multi-homer performance in the 13-5 midweek win over Tulane on Tuesday and came up with another two-homer day in the 15-5 win over TCU to clinch the sweep in the series finale. Gasparino totaled a slugging percentage of 1.769 and an on-base percentage of .684 to lead the UCLA offense. He was also flawless defensively, converting all seven of his chances in the outfield.
Fisher fired an eight-inning complete-game one-hit shutout with a career-high 11 strikeouts and no walks in the third game of the weekend series to complete a sweep of Xavier. The Noble, Oklahoma, native recorded the Razorbacks’ first eight-inning complete-game shutout as well as the first eight-inning one-hitter in program history after Arkansas walked off Xavier in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn an 11-0 run-rule win.
Fisher threw only 86 pitches over a career-long eight innings and retired the final 20 batters he faced after an infield single in the second. His strong outing in Sunday’s finale against the Musketeers helped the Hogs put the final touches on their 33rd consecutive nonconference regular-season weekend series win at home.
Whitney tied the Oregon State single-game record with 17 strikeouts in the Beavers' 3-1 win over Baylor on Friday. He faced 25 batters and gave up two hits, a walk and a hit batter. The Blackfoot, Idaho, native recorded at least one strikeout in all seven innings he worked, striking out the side in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Whitney retired the last 11 batters he faced, nine by strikeout.
The sophomore tied a record that had been reached twice previously. Mason Smith struck out 17 against Portland in 1994 and Cooper Hjerpe matched that mark in a 2022 game against Stanford.
Whitney also set the Dell Diamond record for most strikeouts in a game at the stadium, which opened in 2000. The righty has allowed one run in 12 innings this season for a 0.75 earned run average. He has 23 strikeouts on the year, limiting opponents to seven hits and four walks.
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).