CHICAGO (NBCWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week awards for the period ending February 24th.

Crain

Komine

Linde

Houston junior shortstop Jesse Crain earned the Hitter of the Week award, while Shane Komine of Nebraska and Joe Linde of Eastern Michigan share the 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.

Crain batted .600 (12-for-20) as Houston won three of four games against nationally-ranked opponents last week. He had four hits in each of the two wins over No. 3 LSU and hit safely in all four games on the week. Crain scored eight runs, doubled three times and drove in four runs while adding a walk and a stolen base. In addition, he posted a slugging percentage of .750 and played errorless defense in the field at third base and shortstop in 11 chances. Crain also tossed a career-best 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief and earned his second win of the year when the Cougars rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat LSU on Sunday.

A two-time All-American, Komine threw a one-hitter and faced just one batter over the minimum in eight innings pitched at McNeese State on February 22. He struck out 14 over eight innings pitched before yielding to relief help after retiring the final 15 hitters he faced in the McNeese State Invitational contest at Lake Charles, La.

Linde led the Eagles to a 5-0 win at Tennessee in Eastern Michigan’s season opener on February 22, throwing a complete game shutout. He scattered three hits and struck out six as he outdueled Jeremy Terrell, a national pitcher of the week honoree last week. This is the second straight season that Linde has opened his campaign with a shutout.

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.

2002 NCBWA Players of the Week:
• Feb. 5: Chad Corona, San Diego St. (Hitter); Ryan Schroyer, Arizona St. (Pitcher)
• Feb. 12: Shaun Larkin, Cal State Northridge (Hitter); Phillip Aragon, Nicholls St. (Pitcher)
• Feb. 19: Ryan Schade, Western Carolina (Hitter); Jared Theodorakos, Baylor (Pitcher)
• Feb. 26: Jesse Crain, Houston (Hitter); Shane Komine, Nebraska and Joe Linde, Eastern Michigan (Pitcher)
• Mar. 5: Jeff Cook, Southern Miss (Hitter); Eric Brandon, Auburn (Pitcher)
• Mar. 12: Mike Arbinger, Ohio (Hitter); Joseph Blanton, Kentucky and Matt Hamer, The Citadel (Pitcher)
• Mar. 19: Khalil Greene, Clemson (Hitter); Brad Halsey, Texas (Pitcher)
• Mar. 26: Shane Costa, Cal State Fullerton (Hitter); Brad Sullivan, Houston (Pitcher)
• Apr. 2: Jay Garthwaite, Washington (Hitter); Justin Simmons, Texas (Pitcher)
• Apr. 9: Jamie D'Antona, Wake Forest and Jeremy Isenhower, Southwest Missouri State (Hitter); René Recio, Oral Roberts (Pitcher)
• Apr. 16: Jason Cooper, Stanford and Jesse Novalis, Lehigh (Hitter); Bryan Bullington, Ball State (Pitcher)
• Apr. 23: Brad Bauder, Virginia Tech (Hitter); John Tetuan, Wichita State (Pitcher)
• Apr. 30: Brent Boyd, Alabama (Hitter); Dan Scott, Sacred Heart (Pitcher)
• May 7: Matt Krimmel, George Washington (Hitter); Jeremy Rogelstad, San Jose State and Tom Wheeler, Rutgers (Pitcher)
• May 14: Paul McAnulty, Long Beach State (Hitter); Alex Hart, Florida (Pitcher)