DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers
Association released its weekly NCAA Division II National
Players of the Week awards for the period ending April
15th. Grand Valley State sophomore first baseman Giancarlo
Brugnoni is the National Hitter of the Week while Delta
State junior lefthander Colton Mitchell is the
National Pitcher of the Week.
Giancarlo Brugnoni (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) tied an NCAA Division
II record with four home runs in four-straight plate appearances
against Tiffin on Saturday (Apr. 14). For the week, Brugnoni hit
.522 with nine runs, 12 hits, five home runs, 10 RBI, a 1.304 slugging
percentage and the first triple of his career. In the first game
against Tiffin, Brugnoni led off with a triple and then smacked
two home runs to finish the game 3-for-3 with three runs and five
RBI. In the second game, Brugnoni hit home runs in his first two
plate appearances, finishing the game 2-for-3 with two runs and
three RBI. Brugnoni became the first Laker ever with four or more
multi-HR games in his career, the first with back-to-back multi-HR
games and the first with three or more multi-HR games in a single
season. Brugnoni added another long ball on Sunday to give him five
home runs in four games. For the season, Brugnoni is hitting .356
with 11 home runs and 28 RBI.
Colton Mitchell (Lake, Miss.) made Delta State history in the
Statesmen's 4-0 home win over New Orleans in the second game of
Saturday's doubleheader. The junior turned in a flawless performance
on the mound for Delta State, becoming the first player in school
history to record a perfect game. The Lake, Miss. native moved his
season record to 5-0 after striking out seven and not allowing a
UNO runner on base in 7.0 complete innings of work. Mitchell also
became just the fourth player in GSC history to notch a perfect
game and first since Southern Arkansas Brian Smith in 1997.
Division II Regional Players of the Week: Atlantic:
Mark Darlington, West Virginia Wesleyan (Hitter); Lou Trivino, Slippery
Rock (Pitcher) Central: Nate Van Roekel, Winona State (Hitter);
Tyler Ockuly, Minnesota State (Pitcher) East: Matt Benedetto,
Dowling (Hitter); Michael Tamburino, Pace (Pitcher) Midwest:
Giancarlo Brugnoni, Grand Valley State (Hitter); Zach Botjer, Ashland
(Pitcher) South: Michael Schmidt, North Alabama (Hitter); Colton
Mitchell, Delta State (Pitcher) South Central: Grant Fink,
Missouri Western (Hitter); Stephen Johnson, St. Edwards (Pitcher)
Southeast: Cody Maas, Georgia College (Hitter); Ethan Bader, Armstrong
Atlantic (Pitcher) West: Bo Folkinga, Western Oregon (Hitter);
Kevin Bosson, Cal Poly Pomona (Pitcher)
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-America awards, publication
and writing contests.
2012 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Feb. 5: Chris Miller, Cal Poly Pomona (Hitter);
Rick Reyna, Angelo State (Pitcher)
Feb. 12: Anthony Boza, Lynn (Hitter); Barry Meeks, West Alabama (Pitcher)
Feb. 19: Joe Andrade, Dixie State (Hitter);
Brandon Droge, Newman (Pitcher) Feb.
26: Nate Wilder, Arkansas Tech (Hitter); Carl O'Neal, St. Mary's (Pitcher)
March 4: Tommy Barnes, Nebraska-Kearney (Hitter);
Nolan Snell, Colorado Mesa (Pitcher)
March 11: Drew Miller, Southwest Baptist (Hitter);
Dan McMahon, University of the Sciences (Pitcher)
March 18: Heath Peterson, Montevallo (Hitter);
Chris Zbin, Southern Connecticut State (Pitcher)
March 25: Areo Regoli, Nova Southeastern (Hitter);
Tim Flight, Southern New Hampshire (Pitcher)
April 1: Tucker Brown, Central Oklahoma (Hitter);
Mark Royer, Millersville (Pitcher)
April 8: James Roche, Franklin Pierce (Hitter); Derek Hansen, Augustana (Pitcher)
April 15: Giancarlo Brugnoni, Grand Valley
State (Hitter); Colton Mitchell, Delta State (Pitcher)
April 22: Scott Zuback, Lock Haven (Hitter);
Jaden Dillon, Texas A&M-Kingsville (Pitcher)
April 29: Alex Schrupp, Metro State (Hitter);
Logan Birr, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
May 6: Adam Shank, St. Edward's (Hitter);
Thomas Lee, Sonoma State (Pitcher)
|