Blackburn's Stepp Receives Weekly National Award

Blackburn College pitcher Jonathan Stepp received the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division III Pitcher of the Week award for the period of March 20-26. Stepp, a sophomore left-hander from Georgetown, Texas, became the first player to record a no-hitter in Blackburn baseball history.

Jonathan Stepp

Stepp worked all seven innings of a 7-0 win over Eureka College, allowing just one walk while striking out six. Only three opponents reached base, the other two reached on errors, but all three were erased off the base paths as Stepp faced the minimum of 21 batters in the game. 

Stepp is 2-2 overall on the season and has recorded 28 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings pitched with a 4.01 earned-run average.

Chad Schultz of Manchester College was named the NCBWA Hitter of the Week for this week after hitting .524 with five home runs and a 1.286 slugging percentage. 

In addition fellow SLIAC baseball player Ray Vogel, from Eureka College, was named Honorable Mention for Hitter of the Week by the NCBWA. To view the full release from the NCBWA click HERE

The NCBWA was founded in 1962 and is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters, and publicists of the sport.