DALLAS (NCBWA) – Hard-hitting Kurt Kapferer of Wooster College and Daniel Downs of George Fox University, along with hard-throwing right-hander Cory Anderson of the Coast Guard Academy, have been named the 2005 NCAA Division III Co-National Hitters of the Week and Pitcher of the Week for March 21-27 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Kapferer, a pre-season All-America first baseman from Jefferson, Ohio, snapped out of an early-season slump, batting .593 (16-27) with nine runs scored and 12 RBI while leading the Scots to eight wins in as many games last week. Five of his 16 hits went for extra bases - two doubles, one triple, and two homers – giving him a .963 slugging pct., and he walked three times and was hit by a pitch once. Kapferer¹s best outing came in a 15-4 victory against No. 3-ranked St. Thomas, as he went 5-5 with two home runs and seven RBI. He was the North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

Downs, a sophomore outfielder from Kirkland, Wash., sparked the defending national champion Bruins to a 4-0 week by hitting .632 (12-19) with three doubles, two home runs, 21 total bases (1.105 slugging pct.), two walks, three steals, and an on-base pct. of .667. He collected 13 RBI and scored eight runs. He had multiple hits in every game, including a 6-7 game at Whitman, tying GFU records for most hits and most at bats in a game, with a double, two home runs, nine RBI (the third-highest one-game total ever for a Bruin), and three runs scored. He was the Northwest Conference Hitter of the Week.

Anderson, a junior from Scottsdale, Ariz., was overpowering this week as he picked up both of Coast Guard's wins. In 12 innings, he allowed just six hits and one earned run while walking four and striking out 22. His ERA for the week was 0.75. He pitched a complete game against Springfield and allowed one earned run and four hits while walking two and striking out 12. He also worked five innings and allowed just two hits and no earned runs while striking out 10 in a win over Mitchell. He is 3-0 on the season with a 2.57 ERA and leads the NEWMAC with 32 strikeouts. He was the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.

Honorable Mention Hitters: Doug Wren (Howard Payne) - .765 (13-17), 3 doubles, 1 triple, 6 RBI, 6 runs, 1.059 slugging pct.; Chris Shelhart, (Olivet) - .700 (7-10), 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 6 RBI, 3 runs, 1.700 slugging pct.; Gene Taylor (Louisiana College) - .666 (10-15), 1 double, 3 home runs, 9 RBI, 8 runs, 4 steals, 1.250 slugging pct.; Pat Donovan (Massachusetts-Boston) - .425 (17-40), 4 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 16 RBI, 16 runs, .950 slugging pct.

Honorable Mention Pitchers: Ben O’Brien (Eastern Connecticut State) – 2-0, 1 save, 0.82 ERA, 11 ip, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts, MVP Of California Invitational; Eric Wadowsky (Thiel) – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 ip, 1 hit, 4 strikeouts; John Thiny (Wabash) – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 ip, 1 hit, 7 strikeouts; Mike Mooney (Marietta) – 2-0, 1 save, 0.87 ERA, 10.1 ip, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts; Nathan Soyer (Rose-Hulman) – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 ip, 2 hits, 7 strikeouts

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