Final POTW are Nodzenski and Sweeney
| Joe Sweeney pitched the first no-hitter for
Illinois Wesleyan in nine years. Illinois Wesleyan sports information |
A record-setting week by slugger Mike Nodzenski of Grinnell and
a no-hitter by Joe Sweeney of Illinois Wesleyan have earned the
pair the 10th and final NCAA Division III National Hitter and
Pitcher of the Week honors for May 2-8, 2011, as voted on by a
panel of D-III members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers
Association.
Sweeney, a junior right-hander from Chicago, Ill., pitched a
no-hitter as Illinois Wesleyan beat North Central (Ill.) 8-0 in the
second game of a doubleheader sweep at the Titans’
Horenberger Field on May 7. Sweeney, improving his record to 6-3,
struck out eight and walked only three in tossing the first
no-hitter for IWU since Erik Zier pitched a seven-inning no-hitter
against Wheaton on March 30, 2002. It was the fifth no-hitter
in team history. He became the sixth pitcher to earn national
honors this season by throw a no-hitter. Sweeney was the
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Co-Pitcher of the
Week.
| Mike Nodzenski hit seven home runs in the last week
of Grinnell's regular season schedule. Grinnell sports information |
Nodzenki, a junior catcher from Naperville, Ill., enjoyed a
record-breaking week for Grinnell. In an 18-2 victory over
Monmouth, he set a Pioneer school record with nine RBI and tied the
school mark for home runs in a game with three. In the second game,
he tied Grinnell’s program record for home runs in a season
with 12. He also hit two home runs and drove in six runs in a
13-11 win over Simpson. In six games during the week, he hit
.625, going 15-of-24 at the plate, with seven homers, a double, a
1.542 slugging percentage, 13 runs scored, and 19 RBI. The two-time
Midwest Conference South Division Player of the Year also had a
spotless 1.000 fielding percentage during that span as Grinnell
finished with an 11-1 mark in the division. Nodzenski was the
Midwest Conference Performer of the Week.
Honorable Mention Hitters: Gary Levesque (Rhode
Island) - .667 (10-15), 1 double, 3 home runs, 9 RBI, 7 runs, 1.333
slugging pct.; Kyle Flagstad (St. Scholastica) - .500 (11-22), 3
doubles, 2 triples, 3 stolen bases, 6 RBI, 8 runs, .818 slugging
pct.; Eric Jensen (Wheaton MA) - .688 (11-16), 2 doubles, 2 stolen
bases, 5 RBI, 4 runs, .813 slugging pct.; Ken Gregory (Kean) - .565
(13-23), 1 double, 4 home runs, 4 stolen bases, 8 RBI, 7 runs,
1.130 slugging pct.; Osmer Collado (Mitchell) - .588 (10-17), 3
doubles, 2 home runs, 6 RBI, 9 runs, 1.118 slugging pct.; Kenny
Durling (Misericordia) - .542 (13-24), 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 8
RBI, 8 runs, 1.083 slugging pct.; Ian Sanders (Franklin) - .583
(7-12), 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, 8 runs, 1.250 slugging
pct.
Honorable Mention Pitchers: Mike Lawlor (Western
New England) - 2-0, 2 saves, 0.73 ERA, 12.1 ip, 8 hits, 17
strikeouts; Kyle Silk (Grove City) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 2
hits, 10 strikeouts; Brandon Bouley (Mount St. Joseph’s) -
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 5 hits, 14 strikeouts; Joey Couch
(York PA) - 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 ip, 3 hits, 10 strikeouts; Austin
Blaski (Marietta) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 ip, 0 hits, 5 strikeouts;
Joe Bartlinski (Kean) - 1-0, 1.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 3 hits, 13
strikeouts; Joey Hribar (Mount Aloysius) - 2-0, 1 save, 2.08 ERA,
17.1, 1 cg, 20 hits, 11 strikeouts.
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.
2011 Winners:
Hitter of the Week
Feb. 28-Mar. 6: Kevin Brashears (Shenandoah)
Mar. 7-13 : Michael Pascarella (Pittsburgh-Bradford)
Mar. 14-20: Jonathan Mason (Bridgewater)
Mar. 21-27: Dan Haugh (Wheaton MA)
Mar. 28-Apr. 3: Trent Svehla (Simpson IA)
Apr. 4-10: Ryan Darner (Thomas More)
Apr. 11-17k: Brandon O’Connell (Wisconsin-Stout)
Apr. 18-24: John Snyder (Marietta)
Apr. 25-May 1: Matt Bittner (Penn State-Behrend)
May 2-8: Mike Nodzenski (Grinnell)
Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 28-Mar. 6: Matt McAllister (Penn State-Abington)
Mar. 7-13: Lee Schurlknight (Sewanee)
Mar. 14-20: Josh Scott (Baldwin-Wallace)
Mar. 21-27: Mike McManus (Mount Saint Vincent)
Mar. 28-Apr. 3: Mark DiTommaso (Western New England)
Apr. 4-10 Pitcher of the Week: Travis Ratliff (SUNY-Cortland)
Apr. 11-17: Sean White (Dickinson)
Apr. 18-24: Mike Russo (Kean)
Apr. 25-May 1: Max Henry (Saint Vincent)
May 2-8: oe Sweeney (Illinois Wesleyan)
