ATLANTA (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week awards for the period ending April 18.

J.R. Estes of Bridgewater College (Va.) was named National Hitter of the Week, while Jeremy Hinderks of Concordia College (Minn.) was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA reviews candidates from Division III conferences each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.

Estes homered in each of Bridgewater's four games last week. In the four games, he was 8-for-15 (.533) with seven of his eight hits going for extra bases (four homers, two doubles, one triple). Estes had 24 total bases in 15 at-bats for a 1.600 slugging percentage. In the four games, he had 14 RBIs, scored six runs and had an on-base percentage of .611. In a doubleheader against Randolph-Macon (Va.), he reached base eight straight times. After striking out in his first at bat in the first game, Estes doubled, tripled, and homered. In Game 2, he had a single, double, home run and two walks. For the season he is hitting .410 and ranks among the nation's leaders in home runs (15) and RBIs (50). He also was selected Hitter of the Week by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Hinderks won two games and saved two games in four appearances last week. He pitched 16 2/3 innings, including two complete seven-inning games, and allowed one earned run (0.41 ERA). Hinderks struck out 11 while walking two. In Concordia's sweep of Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.), Hinderks won the opener by pitching a complete seven-inning game giving up one earned run. In the second game, he entered the game in the top of the seventh inning with Concordia clinging to a one-run lead and retired the side in order to pick up the save. In the doubleheader opener against Saint John's (Minn.), Hinderks pitched another complete seven-inning game, allowing six hits and no earned runs. In the second game, he pitched 1.2 innings to picked up his second save of the week. The righthander also was selected Pitcher of the Week by the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Honorable mention: Joe Hernandez, William Paterson (N.J.), Lucas Lechnir, Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Hitter); Shaun Burchett, Ohio Wesleyan, Tim Hanson, Nichols (Mass.), Bobby Wyant, Pittsburgh-Bradford (Pitcher).

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

2004 NCBWA Division III Players of the Week:
• March 9: Sean Scott, Menlo (Hitter); Nathan Soyer, Rose-Hulman (Pitcher)
• March 16: Jonathan Thomas, New Jersey City (Hitter); Adam Huron, Haverford and James Halle, Louisiana College (Pitcher)
• March 23: James Morgan, East Texas Baptist (Hitter); Chris Lynn, Kenyon (Pitcher)
• March 30: Geoff Neese, Dickinson (Hitter); Jeff Gogal, Montclair State (Pitcher)
• April 6: Ian Houze, DeSales (Hitter); Scott Hyde, George Fox (Pitcher)
• April 13: Rob Blackburn, Montclair State (Hitter); Kyle Rensing, Blackburn (Pitcher)
• April 20: J.R. Estes, Bridgewater (Hitter); Jeremy Hinderks, Concordia College (Pitcher)
• April 27: Jeff Coté, SUNY-New Paltz (Hitter); Tom O'Connor, Ithaca College (Pitcher)
• May 4: Mike Cohan, DeSales (Hitter); Julius Jenkins, The College of New Jersey (Pitcher)
• May 11: Bryant Rogness, Gustavus Adolphus (Hitter); Dale Koler, Baldwin-Wallace (Pitcher)