DALLAS (NCBWA) – Pitt-Greensburg's Ryan Dodson
and Williams College's Tyler Duff were tabbed the
National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association Division
III Hitter and Pitcher of the Week for the period of April
25-May 1.
Dodson, a junior outfielder from Bethel Park, Pa., led a sparkling
week for Division III hitters. The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate
Conference's Hitter of the Week proved extremely efficient for the
Bobcats, going 10-for-12 over a three-game span against Medaille
and Waynesburg. He posted a .883 batting average that included a
walk, five doubles, five runs, and eight RBI. Dodson's numbers also
featured an .846 on base percentage and 1.250 slugging percentage.
Duff, a junior right-hander from Orefeld, Pa., was nearly perfect
for the Ephs in a clash against conference opponent Hamilton April
30. The New England Small College Athletic Conference's Pitcher
of the Week was one hit away from achieving a perfect game. In a
must-win situation, Duff allowed a lead-off single in the first,
then retired 21 straight batters to finish with a one-hit shutout
in a 3-0 victory. He did not walk or hit a batter, and struck out
six Continentals, while leveling his record at 2-2 and lowering
his ERA to 3.70.
Honorable Mention Hitters: Will Welsh, Fr.,
OF, Lancaster Bible College – Guided the Chargers to a 3-1 week
after posting a scorching .750 batting average while knocking in
10 runs and scoring eight more. Six of Welsh's 12 hits went for
extra bases, including three home runs and three doubles that helped
him post a .750 on-base percentage and a 1.500 slugging percentage
in 16 plate appearances. He opened the week going 7-for-8 with three
home runs, a double, seven RBIs and six runs scored in a doubleheader
sweep over Summit April 28, which included a perfect 5-for-5 effort
with four RBIs and four runs scored in game one. Welsh then followed
that up by going 5-for-8 with a pair of doubles, three RBIs and
two runs scored in a conference split with Penn State Berks April
30. Justin Cassinelli, Sr., INF, Susquehanna – Hit for the cycle
in a May 1 13-3 win over Elizabethtown to cap off a week in which
compiled a .625 batting average with 10 hits, nine runs scored and
10 RBI. He had two doubles, one triple and four homers for a 1.625
slugging percentage and a .650 on-base percentage. He walked twice,
stole two bases and struck out just twice in 16 at-bats. He also
did not commit an error and had 12 putouts. He had at least one
hit in all four games and had two games with at least three hits.
He also scored at least one run in every game and had a week-high
six RBI in loss at Keystone. Seth Douglas, Jr., 1B/DH, SUNY-Canton
– Turned in a monster week hitting 14-for-21 from the plate (.667)
to lead the Roos to a 4-1 week and back into the thick of playoff
contention with a 2-0 weekend v. Elmira College. He finished the
week with 14 RBI, two home runs, two doubles and two triples to
go with a 1.238 slugging percentage. He opened the week going 4-for-4
with three runs, a home run and 4 RBI in a 9-4 win at SUNY Poly.
He followed that up with a 3-for-3 performance with three runs,
3 RBI, a double and a walk in the Roos only loss of the week v.
the Wildcats. Douglas produced two hits including a triple and 4
RBI in a 16-12 victory v. St. Lawrence April 28. The Wisconsin native
then combined to go 5-for-8 with three runs, 3 RBI, a double and
a triple in a pair of huge Empire 8 wins (10-4, 6-5) vs. Elmira
April 30.
Honorable Mention Pitchers: Jon Mierzwa, Fr.,
RHP, Catholic – In a must-win situation, Mierzwa took the mound
for Catholic for the greatest performance of his rookie season.
The freshman pitched a full seven innings for the Cardinals in game
two of their final Landmark Conference series versus Juniata. Mierzwa
shutout the Eagles, registering a career and season-high 13 strikeouts.
He dealt a nearly perfect game, giving up just one hit in the top
of the sixth to help keep Catholic's playoff hopes alive. Nanak
Saran, So., RHP, The College of Wooster – Went 2-0 on the hill last
week for the Scots and extended his consecutive scoreless streak
to 20 innings in wins over Kenyon and Oberlin. Saran held Kenyon
scoreless for seven innings of an April 27 12-1 win, before tossing
a 9.0 inning shutout in a 6-0 victory over the Yeomen May 1. In
16.0 total innings on the week, he scattered just nine hits and
struck out 10 batters.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of
college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and
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newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Player
of the Year Award, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America
voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication
and writing contests.
2016 NCBWA Division III Players of the Week:
• Week ending Feb. 21: Tommy Vitaletti, Christopher Newport (Hitter); Greg Schneider, Frostburg State (Pitcher)
• Week ending Feb. 28: Andrew Waters, Trinity, Texas (Hitter); Andrew Stull, Rose-Hulman (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 6: Joe Zimmer, Whitman (Hitter); Matt Backlund, Alvernia (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 13: Justin Taylor, Lancaster Bible (Hitter); Brian Bohman, Penn State-Behrend (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 20: Aaron Barclay, Washington College (Hitter); Sam Gillespie, Kenyon (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 27: Marcus Begg, Southern Virginia (Hitter); Mark Iseneker, St. John Fisher (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 3: Ben Kenning, Thomas More (Hitter); Jake Perkins, Ferrum (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 10: Taylor Kohlwey, UW-La Crosse (Hitter); Sam Tinkham, Grinnell (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 17: Colton Parker, Hardin-Simmons (Hitter); Felix Baez, Keystone (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 24: Willie Doll, St. Mary's, Minnesota (Hitter); Dylan Gausman, Concordia (Pitcher)
• Week ending May 1: Ryan Dodson, Pitt-Greenburg (Hitter); Tyler Duff, Williams (Pitcher)
• Week ending May 8: Richard Fecteau, Salem State (Hitter); Walter Talcott, Earlham (Pitcher)
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