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 March 8. Cincinnati sophomore infielder Quinton Coats amd Pitt redshirt senior outfielder Lorenzo Carrier were named National Co-Hitters of the Week, while Southern Miss sophomore left-handed pitcher Grayden Harris 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.
Coats led the country for the week with seven home runs in five Cincinnati victories. The sophomore infielder finished the week hitting .500 (11-for-22) with seven home runs, 17 RBI and 10 runs scored while slugging 1.545. He homered in every game and recorded multiple hits in four of the five contests, including at least three RBI in all four games against UC San Diego.
The seven homers increased his season total to 12 home runs, the second-most in Division I. Additionally, he led the Big 12 in RBIs (17, No. 2 nationally), hits (11, No. 4 ) and runs (10, No. 6 nationally), while also leading the country in total bases (34).
Carrier hit .867 (13-for-15) with 19 RBI, 10 runs scored, five home runs, two triples, one double and 33 total bases while slugging 2.200 with a 3.095 OPS in Pitt's perfect 4-0 week. cked off the weekend with career high two-homer, eight-RBI, performance at San Jose State. Carrier slugged a grand slam, a two-run blast and a had a two-run single as he knocked in a career-high eight runs in Friday's win.
The Bear, Delaware, native backed that up with a five-hit, five-RBI game on Saturday to clinch the series, driving in runs on another two-run blast, a two-run triple and an RBI single. Carrier added two more RBI to his ledger on a two-run home run in the top of the first inning in the series finale on Sunday to cap off his scorching hot week. Pitt's outfielder has homered in each of the last five games.
Harris provided the best start of his Golden Eagle career last Saturday in a 6-1 victory over North Alabama, that included a career-high seven innings to go along with a career-best 13 strikeouts and only one walk as he gave up three hits. Harris surrendered just a one-out, first inning single and then had a runner reach base in the second on a fielding error (it was erased on an inning-ending double play).
The double play started a string of Harris retiring 15 batters in a row, before giving up his lone run in the seventh on a walk and two hits. He struck out the side twice in the contest and had at least two strikeouts in an inning five times. He improved his season record to 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA. He is tied for the team lead in wins and has the most strikeouts on the club with 30 this season in 21 innings of work.
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).
2026 Dick Howser Trophy National Players of the Week
• Week ending Feb. 15: Tyce Armstrong, r-Sr., 1B, Baylor, Dee Kennedy, Jr., SS, Kansas State (Hitters); Chris Olivier, Sr., RHP, Lamar (Pitcher)
• Week ending Feb. 22: Will Gasparino, Jr., OF, UCLA (Hitter); Colin Fisher, Jr., LHP, Arkansas, Dax Whitney, So., RHP, Oregon State (Pitchers)
• Week ending March 1: Cider Cannon, Jr., C/RF, Duke, Weber Neels, Sr., C, Minnesota (Hitters); Andrew Herrmann, LHP, Graduate Student, Louisiana (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 8: Lorenzo Carrier, R-Sr., OF, Pitt, Quinton Coats, So., INF, Cincinnati (Hitters); Grayden Harris, So., LHP, Southern Miss (Pitcher)