DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week awards presented by The Game Headwear for the period ending Feb. 18. Santa Clara senior outfielder JonJon Berring was named National Hitter of the Week, while Florida State sophomore right-handed pitcher Cam Leiter named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Berring ranked among the top 10 nationally in eight different categories, as he slugged an outstanding 1.467, while batting .533 (8-for-15) and carrying an on-base percentage of .563 in three road games at Pac-12 Conference power Arizona State. Six of his eight hits in the series went for extra bases, including a nation-leading four home runs to go with two doubles. His 22 total bases in the series were tops in Division I over the opening weekend, and his 13 RBIs ranked third, capped by a career-high six in the Broncos' 14-13 win on Sunday.
The Seaside, California, native also ranked among the country's top-10 over the weekend in RBIs per game (3rd, 4.33), home runs per game (3rd, 1.33), runs scored per game (5th, 2.67), total runs scored (7th, 8) and slugging percentage (10th).
It was Berring's tie-breaking two-run homer in the top of the ninth Sunday, his second long ball of the day, that proved to be the game winner, as the Broncos held on for the 14-13 victory. Berring posted three consecutive multi-hit games and three consecutive multi-extra-base hit games while also stealing a base and playing a perfect left field with a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Leiter had a dominant opening day win against Butler. The Bayville, New Jersey, native struck out a career-high 13 batters and allowed just one hit over five innings in FSU's 11-0 victory.
He struck out the side in the second, fourth and fifth innings. After the Bulldogs lone hit in the fourth inning put runners on first and second, Leiter struck out the next six batters, including three straight to strand a pair.
Leiter spearheaded a Florida State team that struck out 22 batters, the fourth-most in FSU history and the second-most in a nine-inning game. Leiter's 13 strikeouts are the most for a Seminole on Opening Day since 1956 and the most in an FSU debut since 1978.
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, contact NCBWA Executive Associate Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).