DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released the Pro-Line Cap National Player of the Week awards for the period ending March 28, today.

Western Carolina junior first baseman Trey McDaniel was named National Hitter of the Week, while Eastern Kentucky
freshman left-hander Christian Friedrich 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.

In five games last week McDaniel batted .733 (11-for-15) with three home runs, 13 runs scored and 12 RBIs. The junior first baseman from West Columbia, S.C., recorded a 1.400 slugging percentage and had an .840 on-base percentage. McDaniel drew nine walks on the week, including five in Sunday's 20-10 win over Wofford and was also hit by a pitch. He opened the week with a 3-for-5 outing with three RBIs in a win over Hartford, then concluded the week by going 8-for-9 with nine runs and eight RBIs in the Catamounts' three-game sweep of the Terriers.

Friedrich pitched the fifth no-hitter in Eastern Kentucky history in a 1-0 shutout of Ohio Valley Conference opponent Morehead State. The freshman right-hander from Evanston, Ill., faced just two batters over the minimum, hitting one and walking the other while striking out 10 in a seven-inning, complete-game effort.

With this week's honor, Friedrich automatically are 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 second 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.

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 on the Pro-Line Cap Players of the Week, contact Mike Montoro at the University of Southern Mississippi at 601-266-5947.

2006 Pro-Line Cap Players of the Week:
• Feb. 14: Aaron Luna, Rice (Hitter); Nick Schmidt, Arkansas (Pitcher)
• Feb. 21: Chris Swauger, The Citadel (Hitter); Barry Enright, Pepperdine and Brad Furnish, TCU (Pitcher)
• Feb. 28: Kyle Russell, Texas (Hitter); Rodney Brantley, Dallas Baptist (Pitcher)
• March 7: Luke Hopkins, New Mexico State (Hitter); Joba Chamberlain, Nebraska (Pitcher)
• March 14: Chris Gradoville, Creighton (Hitter); David Price, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
• March 21: Kellen Kulbacki, James Madison (Hitter); Daniel Best, Southern Miss and Miles Morgan, Texas Tech (Pitcher)
• March 28: Trey McDaniel, Western Carolina (Hitter); Christian Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky (Pitcher)
• April 4: Andy D'Alessio, Clemson (Hitter); Tim Lincecum, Washington (Pitcher)
• April 11: Reid Fronk, North Carolina (Hitter); Adam Ottavino, Northeastern (Pitcher)
• April 18: Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt (Hitter); Mike Ballard, Virginia (Pitcher)
• April 25: Case Cassedy, Furman (Hitter); Brooks Brown, Georgia (Pitcher)
• May 2: Emeel Salem, Alabama (Hitter); Bobby Blevins, LeMoyne (Pitcher)
• May 9: Jacob Dempsey, Winthrop (Hitter); Nick Jones, Oral Roberts (Pitcher)
• May 16: Josh Dew, Troy (Hitter); Brad Lincoln, Houston (Pitcher)

Related links:
• Pro-Line Cap Player of the Week plaques