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 March 24. Clemson senior infielder Blake Wright was named National Hitter of the Week, while TCU junior left-handed pitcher Payton Tolle was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Wright put together one of the best weeks in Clemson history, going 13-for-22 (.591) at the plate with six home runs, 21 RBI, 10 runs, a 1.409 slugging percentage, two walks and a .625 on-base percentage. Wright’s six home runs, 10 hits, and 21 RBI were all the best in the nation throughout the week. His 21 RBI throughout the week are the most by any Division I player in a single week this season.
Wright helped the Tigers go a perfect 5-0 on the week, including a sweep of No. 7 Florida State. The senior from Belleair, Florida, tallied at least one hit, one run scored, and three RBI in each of Clemson’s five games on the week. In Clemson’s win over Presbyterian on Wednesday, Wright matched the Clemson single-game record by launching three home runs. In three games against nationally-ranked Florida State, the infielder hit three home runs, including a pair of late-inning grand slams, and plated 12 runs, helping the Tigers overcome deficits of seven and nine runs, respectively, in the final two games of the series.
Tolle was masterful in recording his first complete game shutout in a TCU uniform. The Yukon, Oklahoma, native allowed five hits, walked three and struck out a career-high 15 Oklahoma State batters. He never faced more than four batters in an inning, twice getting double play balls to eliminate base runners. He struck out multiple batters in five innings. No Cowboy hitter advanced to third in the contest.
The 15 strikeouts were the most for a pitcher since Kyle Winkler struck out 15 against Air Force on April 1, 2011. The nine inning, complete game shutout was the first for a Horned Frog since Johnny Ray against Minnesota on Feb. 22, 2020.
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).