Baseball Southern Conference

Lauderdale Named National Player of the Week

CHICAGO - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week awards for the period ending April 13th, today. College of Charleston senior catcher Matt Lauderdale was named the National Hitter of the Week, while Ohio State sophomore LHP Scott Lewis and senior RHP Greg Prenger share Pitcher of the Week honors. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.

Lauderdale, a 5-10, 205-pound senior catcher from Atlanta, GA, hit .643 in leading the Cougars to a three-game road sweep at East Tennessee State over the weekend. Lauderdale went 9-for-14 (.643) at the plate, scored five funs and drove in eight with two doubles, two triples and a home run. In addition, Lauderdale set CofC's school record for career doubles with 51.

Lewis equaled a school record by striking out 20 batters in nine innings as OSU topped Iowa in the series opener on April 11. The sophomore lefthander allowed no earned runs and only two hits in the 4-1 triumph, walking only one batter in the process. His 20 K's tied the Buckeyes school record held by Steve Arlin, who struck out 20 batters in a 15-inning victory in the 1965 College World Series. Lewis is now 5-0 on the year with a 1.59 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 51 innings.

Prenger shares NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week honors with his teammate after throwing the first perfect game in Ohio State's 120-year history. The senior righthander retired all 21 batters he faced to post a 2-0 win over Oakland on Wednesday for the first no-hitter by a Buckeyes' hurler since Eric Thompson no-hit Michigan State on May 10, 1998. It was also the first perfect game coached by Ohio State mentor Bob Todd, who is in his 20th year as a collegiate head coach.

For more information contact NCBWA Secretary/Treasurer Russell Anderson (312-553-0483, rdanderson@c-usa.org).


PREVIOUS WINNERS:
Hitter of the Week - Feb. 4- Ryan Baty, LF, Kansas; Feb. 11 - Jonny Kaplan, CF, Tulane; Feb. 18 - Travis Metcalf, 3B, Kansas; Feb. 25 - C.J. Smith, C, Florida; Mar. 4 - Jeff Cook, OF, Southern Miss; Mar. 11 - Ronnie Prettyman, DH, Cal State Fullerton; Mar. 18 - Anthony Raglani, 1B, George Washington; Mar. 25 - Michael Aubrey, 1B, Tulane; Apr. 1 - Ryan Braun, OF, Miami (Fla.); Apr. 8 - Mike DeLorenzo, C, St. Joseph's.

Pitcher of the Week - Feb. 4- Jered Liebeck, RHP, Arizona State; Feb. 11 - Wes Littleton, Cal State Fullerton; Feb. 18 - Sean Rierson, RHP, Arizona; Feb. 25 - Kyle Sleeth, RHP, Wake Forest; Mar. 4 - Alan Johnson, RHP, Mississippi State; Mar. 11 - Jeff Garner, RHP, Central Michigan; Mar. 18 - Jarrett Gardner, RHP, Arkansas; Mar. 25 - Tom Robbins, RHP, Southwest Texas State; Apr. 1 - Matt Luca, UNLV; Apr. 8 - Wade Townsend, RHP, Rice and Dennis Bigley, RHP, Oral Roberts.