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March 9, 2004 For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Montoro 601-266-5947 |
| Ole Miss 1B reaches base in 16 straight plate appearances | |
| FOUR STANDOUTS NAMED NCBWA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK |
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CHICAGO (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week awards for the period ending March 7. Southern Miss senior outfielder Ryan Frith and Ole Miss first baseman Stephen Head have been named National Co-Hitters of the Week, while LSU freshman LHP Clay Dirks and Kansas State senior RHP Jim Ripley were named National Co-Pitchers of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season. Frith led Southern Miss to a 5-0 mark on the week, including the Cox Communications/Lake Area Classic championship crown. The senior went 12-for-24 (.571) with two doubles, 11 runs scored and registered back-to-back games with a home run twice, totaling four long balls over the week. Frith collected 26 total bases for a slugging percentage of 1.238, while picking up 10 RBI. In the game against No. 33 Oklahoma State, the Baton Rouge, La., native went 4-for-6, with four runs, a double, a home run and four RBI. Head set a school record when he reached base safely in 16 consecutive plate appearances (nine hits, seven walks) dating back from the ninth inning of last Sunday’s game at South Alabama through his first plate appearance in Saturday’s nightcap against Eastern Illinois. He finished the week, 9-for-15 (.600) with four home runs, 11 RBIs, 11 runs scored and also drew seven walks in five games. The sophomore from Raymond, Miss., recorded a four-RBI game in the 15-6 win over Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday and in the 18-10 victory over Eastern Illinois on Sunday. Ripley took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and struck out a career-high 10 batters as Kansas State knocked off Alabama, 2-1, Sunday for its sixth straight win. The one-hitter by Kansas State was the first since Casey Cook and Jon Oiseth one-hit Bethany on April 30, 1997. The senior who hails from Ajax, Ontario, was masterful in his second outing of the season, retiring 18 of the first 19 batters he faced, including 17 in a row. A hit batsman was the lone blemish until Bush’s single in the seventh. A leadoff walk by Ripley in the eighth chased the senior as Eric Rollins took over. Ripley finished with seven innings pitched and gave up one run, struck out a career-high 10 batters and walked just one batter. Dirks fired a complete-game shutout in only his third collegiate start against No. 8 Tulane, leading LSU to a 6-0 victory. The freshman from Hernando, Miss., limited the Green Wave to no runs on four hits in nine innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. He allowed just two Tulane runners to advance to second base and retired 20 of the final 22 batters he faced. • 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 I Players of the Week: |
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