Kenning, Perkins take latest NCWBA awards

More news about: Ferrum | Thomas More
Ben Kenning, Thomas More
Thomas More athletics photo

Thomas More’s Ben Kenning and Ferrum’s Jake Perkins gained Hitter and Pitcher of the Week standing on the Division III National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association honors for the period of March 28-April 3.

Kenning, a junior outfielder from Cincinnati, Ohio, helped lead the Saints to a 2-2 record last week, including a 2-1 series win over PAC rival Thiel. He hit .769 (10-of-13) with a pair of home runs, a double, six runs scored and 11 RBI. The Presidents Athletic Conference’s Hitter of the Week also posted a 1.308 slugging percentage and an .833
on-base percentage.

Perkins, a senior right-handed pitcher from Appomattox, Va., registered a gem on the mound for the Panthers against conference foe Greensboro Saturday, April 2. The USA South’s Pitcher of the Week, Perkins tossed a complete-game, one-hit shutout in a 4-0 win during his only appearance on the mound last week as part of a three-game series sweep. Perkins allowed just three walks and struck out 10 batters.

Jake Perkin, Ferrum
Ferrum athletics photo by Aleyona Morris

Honorable Mention Hitters: Tyler Sweeney, jr., 2B, DeSales - Led the Bulldogs to a 4-1 record last week batting 12-for-17 (.706) with 10 runs scored, 6 RBI, 3 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 stolen bases.  He opened the week with back-to-back 4-for-4 efforts in wins over Montclair State University and Ursinus College and finished the week posting 4 hits in 9 at-bats in the three-game series with Wilkes University, knocking in four runs and scoring five in the three-game set as DSU took two of three from the Colonels.

Honorable Mention Pitcher: Richie Ferguson, jr., LHP, Kean – Tossed a complete game 12-inning win over #20/26 TCNJ in the conference opener. He allowed just one earned run in a 2-1 win while striking out four. The 12-inning performance tied a Kean program record for innings pitched in a game.
Sean Buckland, sr., RHP, Salem St. - Threw his second straight complete game shutout, striking out 12 while giving up just two hits in a 5-0 win over MCLA.  Hasn't given up an earned run in 17.1 innings pitched.

National Players of the week for:
March 28-April 3
: Ben Kenning, Thomas More and Jake Perkins, Ferrum
March 21-27
: Marcus Begg, Southern Virginia, Mark Iseneker, St. John Fisher
March 14-20
: Aaron Barclay, Washington College and Sam Gillespie, Kenyon
March 7-13
: Justin Taylor, Lancaster Bible, Brian Bohman, Penn St.-Behrend, and Josh Outsen, St. Joseph’s (L.I.)
February 29-March 6: Joe Zimmer, Whitman and Matt Backlund, Alvernia
February 22-28: Andrew Waters, Trinity (Texas) and Andrew Stull, Rose-Hulman
February 15-21: Tommy Vitaletti, Christopher Newport and Greg Schneider, Frostburg St.

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 Dick Howser Player of the Year Award, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.