| Ryan Dodson, Pitt-Greenburg Pitt-Greenburh athletics photo |
Pitt-Greensburg’s Ryan Dodson and Williams' Tyler Duff were tabbed the National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association Division III Hitter and Pitcher of the Week for the period of April 25-May 1.
Dodson, a junior outfielder from Bethel Park, Penn., led a sparkling week for Division III hitters. The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference’s Hitter of the Week proved extremely efficient for the Bobcats, going 10-for-12 over a three-game span against Medaille and Waynesburg. He posted a .883 batting average that included a walk, five doubles, five runs, and eight RBI. Dodson’s numbers also featured an .846 on base percentage and 1.250 slugging percentage.
Duff, a junior right-hander from Orefeld, Penn., was nearly perfect for the Ephs in a clash against conference opponent Hamilton April 30. The New England Small College Athletic Conference’s Pitcher of the Week was one hit away from achieving a perfect game. In a must-win situation, Duff allowed a lead-off single in the first, then retired 21 straight batters to finish with a one-hit shutout in a 3-0 victory. He did not walk or hit a batter, and struck out six Continentals, while leveling his record at 2-2 and lowering his ERA to 3.70.
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Tyler Duff, Williams |
Honorable Mention Hitters: Will Welsh, fr., OF, Lancaster Bible College – Guided the Chargers to a 3-1 week after posting a scorching .750 batting average while knocking in 10 runs and scoring eight more. Six of Welsh’s 12 hits went for extra bases, including three home runs and three doubles that helped him post a .750 on-base percentage and a 1.500 slugging percentage in 16 plate appearances. He opened the week going 7-for-8 with three home runs, a double, seven RBIs and six runs scored in a doubleheader sweep over Summit April 28, which included a perfect 5-for-5 effort with four RBIs and four runs scored in game one. Welsh then followed that up by going 5-for-8 with a pair of doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored in a conference split with Penn State Berks April 30.
Justin Cassinelli, sr., INF, Susquehanna - Hit for the cycle in a May 1 13-3 win over Elizabethtown to cap off a week in which compiled a .625 batting average with 10 hits, nine runs scored and 10 RBI. He had two doubles, one triple and four homers for a 1.625 slugging percentage and a .650 on-base percentage. He walked twice, stole two bases and struck out just twice in 16 at-bats. He also did not commit an error and had 12 putouts. He had at least one hit in all four games and had two games with at least three hits. He also scored at least one run in every game and had a week-high six RBI in loss at Keystone.
Seth Douglas, jr., 1B/DH, SUNY-Canton - Turned in a monster week hitting 14-for-21 from the plate (.667) to lead the Roos to a 4-1 week and back into the thick of playoff contention with a 2-0 weekend v. Elmira College. He finished the week with 14 RBI, two home runs, two doubles and two triples to go with a 1.238 slugging percentage. He opened the week going 4-for-4 with three runs, a home run and 4 RBI in a 9-4 win at SUNY Poly. He followed that up with a 3-for-3 performance with three runs, 3 RBI, a double and a walk in the Roos only loss of the week v. the Wildcats. Douglas produced two hits including a triple and 4 RBI in a 16-12 victory v. St. Lawrence April 28. The Wisconsin native then combined to go 5-for-8 with three runs, 3 RBI, a double and a triple in a pair of huge Empire 8 wins (10-4, 6-5) vs. Elmira April 30.
Honorable Mention Pitchers: Jon Mierzwa, fr., RHP, Catholic - In a must-win situation, Mierzwa took the mound for Catholic for the greatest performance of his rookie season. The freshman pitched a full seven innings for the Cardinals in game two of their final Landmark Conference series versus Juniata. Mierzwa shutout the Eagles, registering a career and season-high 13 strikeouts. He dealt a nearly perfect game, giving up just one hit in the top of the sixth to help keep Catholic's playoff hopes alive.
Nanak Saran, so., RHP, The College of Wooster - Went 2-0 on the hill last week for the Scots and extended his consecutive scoreless streak to 20 innings in wins over Kenyon and Oberlin. Saran held Kenyon scoreless for seven innings of an April 27 12-1 win, before tossing a 9.0 inning shutout in a 6-0 victory over the Yeomen May 1. In 16.0 total innings on the week, he scattered just nine hits and struck out 10 batters.
2016 NCWBA Hitter and Pitcher of the Week
April25-May 1: Ryan Dodson, Pitt-Bradford and Tyler Duff, Williams.
April 18-24: Willie Doll, St. Mary's (Minn.) and Dylan Gausman, Concordia (Wisc.)
Aprill 11-17: Colton Parker, Hardin-Simmons and Felix Baez, Keystone
April 3-10: Taylor Kohlwey, UW-La Crosse and Sam Tinkham, Grinnell
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.