March 18, 2003

Chicago - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) has released its Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week awards for the period ending March 16th, today. Hardin Simmons sophomore OF Elliot Strader was named the National Hitter of the Week, while Lebanon Valley Dustin Jones won the Pitcher of the Week honors. A panel of Division III NCBWA members reviews candidates from each Division III Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.

Strader made the most of his five spring break games, batting.625 (10-for-16) with three multiple-hit games. The sophomore opened the week 6-for-10 in his three Abilene Classic games (March 10-12), collecting two hits against Southwestern and three vs. Montclair State. Strader closed the week hitting .667 (4-for-6) in a pair of games against ASC West rival Howard Payne (March 14-15), including a 3-for-4 performance in the series opener. He missed game one of Saturday's doubleheader when he gave his sister away at her wedding.

Strader also won ASC West Player of the Week honors for his efforts.