NCBWA National Players Of The Week Release

University of Evansville junior right-hander Wade Kapteyn (Lansing, Ill./Illiana Christian) earned his second award of the week on Tuesday, as Kapteyn was named the Pro-Line Athletic National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).

Kapteyn, also named the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday, went 2-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA last week after tossing 11 consecutive scoreless innings in two starts against Cal State Northridge and No. 10 Pepperdine.

Kapteyn tossed seven shutout innings in Evansville’s 3-0 victory at Cal State Northridge on Tuesday, as he scattered five singles and a walk while striking out four.  He allowed just one man to advance past first base in the seven-inning stint, which was a career-high for the UE junior.  Kapteyn then came back on Saturday to toss four shutout innings in the Purple Aces’ 2-0, seven-inning victory in game one of the doubleheader at No. 10 Pepperdine.  Kapteyn allowed just two singles while striking out three, and allowed just two men to advance past first base on the afternoon.

For the week, Kapteyn worked 11.0 scoreless innings on the mound, giving up just seven singles and one walk, while striking out seven men.  He held Cal State Northridge and No. 10 Pepperdine to a combined .179 opponents batting average, and allowed just three men to advance into scoring position, with only one runner moving past second base.  On the season, Kapteyn is 2-1 with a 3.07 ERA in three starts spanning 14.2 innings of work.

Fort Worth-based Pro-Line Athletic supplies the official cap to more than 100 Division I college teams.  This is the fourth season Pro-Line has sponsored the NCBWA’s Players of the Week.  The sponsorship provides for plagues to be awarded to each of the weekly winners and other promotional consideration.

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball.  Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport.  The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners of both the National Player and National Pitcher of the Week awards.  Murray State junior outfielder Daniel Hill was named the NCBWA National Player of the Week this week.

Kapteyn and the Purple Aces will return to action this weekend, as UE will host IPFW, Purdue, and Mississippi Valley State in the Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic II at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.  Tournament play will begin on Friday, with Purdue battling Mississippi Valley State at 11:00 a.m. and UE hosting IPFW at 3:00 p.m.  Friday’s UE game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.