Release courtesy of the National Collegeiate Baseball Writers Association
DALLAS - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released the Pro-Line Cap National Player of the Week awards for the period ending April 23, today. Furman senior first baseman Case Cassedy was named National Hitter of the Week, while Georgia junior righthander Brooks Brown was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Cassedy helped the Paladins to a 3-1 record last week by hitting .611 (11-for-18) with nine extra-base hits, 11 RBI and six runs scored. The senior first baseman, who had a 1.389 slugging percentage, opened the week with a 2-for-4 performance against sixth-ranked Clemson, including hitting the go-ahead two-run double in the seventh. Cassedy then doubled three times (3-for-4) and scored two runs in Furman’s 3-2 win at Appalachian State on Saturday. After going 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday, Cassedy became the first Paladin since 2000 to hit for the cycle in the team’s 17-11 win over the Mountaineers. He finished the game 5-for-6 with four runs, a career-high seven RBIs, a double, triple and a pair of home runs.
Brown, a junior from Portal, Okla., tossed a three-hit shutout with a career-high 14 strikeouts in 3-0 win over Tennessee. He allowed just three singles and two walks. After a leadoff walk in the first, followed by a stolen base and an errant throw put the runner at third with nobody out, he struck out the next two UT batters and retired the fourth hitter to end the threat. This marked the first career complete game and shutout. It also was the first Southeastern Conference complete-game shutout by a Bulldog pitcher in 11 years.
With this week’s honor, Brown automatically is named to the watch list for Roger Clemens Award, given to the national collegiate pitcher of the year, sponsored by the Greater Houston Baseball Organization.
The Fort Worth-based Pro-Line Cap Co. supplies the official cap to more than 100 Division I college teams. This is the first season Pro-Line has sponsored the NCBWA's Players of the Week. The sponsorship provides for plaques to be awarded to each of the weekly winners and other promotional consideration. For more information about Pro-Line, visit their Web site at www.prolinecap.com <http://www.prolinecap.com/> .
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 Assistant Executive Director Mike Montoro (601-266-5947), michael.montoro@usm.edu).
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
Pro-Line Cap Co., Hitter of the Week ? Feb. 14 ? Aaron Luna, Rice; Feb. 21 ? Chris Swauger, The Citadel; Feb. 28 ? Kyle Russell, Texas; March 7 ? Luke Hopkins, New Mexico State; March 14 ? Chris Gradoville, Creighton; March 21 ? Kellen Kulbacki, James Madison; March 28 - Trey McDaniel, Western Carolina; April 4 ? Andy D’Alessio, Clemson; April 11 ? Reid Fronk, North Carolina; April 18 ? Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt; April 25 ? Case Cassedy, Furman
Pro-Line Cap Co., Pitcher of the Week ? Feb. 14 ? Nick Schmidt, Arkansas; Feb. 21 ? Barry Enright, Pepperdine and Brad Furnish, TCU; Feb. 28 ? Rodney Brantley, Dallas Baptist; March 7 ? Joba Chamberlain, Nebraska; March 14 ? David Price, Vanderbilt; March 21 ? Daniel Best, Southern Miss and Miles Morgan, Texas Tech; March 28 ? Christian Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky; April 4 ? Tim Linecum, Washington; April 11 ? Adam Ottavino, Northeastern; April 18 ? Mike Ballard, Virginia; April 25 ? Brooks Brown, Georgia
Transactions ? NCBWA named Furman senior first baseman Case Cassedy and Georgia junior RHP Brooks Brown Pro-Line Cap National Players of the Week.