NCBWA Names Niagara Sophomore Outfielder Tanner Kirwer National Player of the Week
MAAC Sports
MORGANTOWN, W.Va - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending April 3, today. Niagara sophomore outfielder Tanner Kirwer was named National Hitter of the Week, while UNC Greensboro sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Wantz was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Kirwer was instrumental in Niagara’s three-game sweep of Saint Peter’s over the weekend. He went 10-for-14 at the plate and had seven runs scored. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native led the team in RBI with 12 and went 3-for-4 in stolen bases. In game one, he helped Niagara to a 21-2 victory with one home run, four runs scored and five RBI. He finished the weekend batting .714, had a .750 on-base percentage, a 1.286 slugging percentage and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Wantz finished the weekend 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in nine innings over three appearances on the week. Striking out 17 batters. Against North Carolina A&T, the Holly Spring, North Carolina native started his first game of the year and allowed one run on two hits, striking out six while earning the win. He worked in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen in Friday’s win over VMI, allowing just one hit and getting six of his seven outs via the strikeout. UNCG took game one, 10-4 over the Keydets.
In Sunday’s series finale against VMI, the sophomore logged 2.2 innings, allowing two walks and striking out five batters. Wantz entered with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth and shut VMI down, striking out the side and keep an inherited runner from scoring and picking up the win. He struck out 11 Keydet batters in just 5.0 innings of work over two appearances in the series.
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 Assistant Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).
2016 WINNERS:
Hitter of the Week – Feb. 23 – Jeren Kendall, Jr., OF, Vanderbilt; March 1 – Brandon Gutzler, OF, Murray State; March 8 – Darik Hall, INF, Dallas Baptist.; March 15 – Joe Cronin, INF, Boston College; March 23 – John Jones, C, South Carolina; March 30 – Tyler Chadwick, Sr., 1B, Coastal Carolina; April 5 – Tanner Kirwer, So., OF, Niagara.
Pitcher of the Week – Feb. 23 – Zach Muckenhirn, Jr., LHP, North Dakota; March 1 – Logan Shore, Jr., RHP, Florida; March 8 – Lucas Hempal, Sr., RHP, Texas State; March 15 – Jesse Scholtens, Sr., RHP, Wright State; March 23 – Seth Romero, So., LHP, Houston; March 30 – Ryan Hingst, So., RHP, Arizona State; April 5 – Andrew Wantz, So., RHP, UNC Greensboro.