March 3, 2020
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kevin Smith
330-263-2374
Hurt, Boyer and Metzger honored
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NCBWA NAMES DIVISION III NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) – Student-athletes from institutions in the USA South Athletic Conference, Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, and New Jersey Athletic Conference logged remarkable performances on the diamond last week, and took home the week two National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Div. III Awards. This week's honorees were recognized for performances spanning February 24 to March 1.

Hitter of the Weel: Senior outfielder Derek Hurt went 10-for-15 with a .750 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage during a 3-1 week for Maryville College. Hurt recorded nine runs, six RBI, three doubles, a triple, a walk, and five stolen bases on the week. In a three-game sweep of USA South foe Huntingdon College, Hurt was a combined 8-for-11 with eight runs scored, six RBI, three doubles, one triple, one walk, and four stolen bases.

Honorable Mention Hitter: Sean Robinson, Jr., OF, Washington University in St. Louis – Batted .899 (8-for-9) and reached base in each of his final 12 plate appearances as the fourth-ranked Bears swept a three-game series with Illinois Institute of Technology. Robinson recorded hits in each of his last eight at bats and finished the three-game set with five runs scored, five RBI, four walks, and two stolen bases.

Pitcher of the Week: Senior Ryan Boyer threw his second straight two-hit shutout for University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in a 9-0 victory over Wells College on Saturday. Boyer struck out 13 batters without allowing a walk. He pitched the final five innings of the game without allowing a hit. He's struck out 33 batters in 18 innings pitched this year.

Honorable Mention Pitcher: Nick Denove, So., Case Western Reserve University – Tossed a complete-game five-hitter to lead CWRU to a 3-1 win over 10th-ranked College of Wooster on Sunday. Denove retired the first 10 batters he faced, did not walk a hitter, and fanned a career-high nine while coming within one out of a shutout.

Rookie of the Week: William Paterson University's Ian Metzger earned his second straight NJAC Rookie Pitcher of the Week honor after picking up another win on the mound. The rookie tossed a complete-game, extra-inning shutout against Franklin & Marshall College on Sunday. He fanned nine and allowed just four hits in the 1-0 eight-inning win. In 13 innings pitched so far this season, Metzger has not allowed an earned run and batters are hitting just .178 against him. He has 13 strikeouts on the young season.

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 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.

2020 NCBWA Division III Players of the Week:
• Week ending Feb. 23: Devin Hooper, Schreiner (Hitter); Ian McCole, Misericordia (Pitcher); Jackson Balzan, Salisbury (Rookie)
• Week ending March 1: Derek Hurt, Maryville (Hitter); Ryan Boyer, Pitt-Bradford (Pitcher); Ian Metzger, William Paterson (Rookie)
• Week ending March 8: Michael Leri, Lebanon Valley (Hitter); Matthew D’Ambrosia, Muhlenberg (Pitcher); Rian Schwede, Endicott and Harutaro Takahashi, New England College (Rookie)
• Week ending March 15: Aaron Spidell, College of Wooster (Hitter); Kaelen Close, Colby-Sawyer (Pitcher); Tyler Horvat, Washington & Jefferson (Rookie)