Ben Gobbel of Belmont Abbey Named National Hitter of the Week
DALLAS - Ben Gobbel of Belmont Abbey has been chosen as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division II National Hitter of the Week.
Gobbel is the second from Belmont Abbey to pick up National Hitter of the Week honors this season, joining Sean Johnson who picked up the prestigious honor on March 23.
A junior shortstop from Cumming, Georgia, Gobbel helped the Crusaders go 4-0 last week as he hit .688 (11-for-16) with a 1.500 slugging percentage and a .750 on-base percentage. He drove in 10 runs and scored 11 with three home runs, two doubles and one triple while also drawing four walks, stealing two bases and striking out just once. In an 18-6 non-conference win over Lander on April 26 he went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and five runs scored with a triple and a home run.
Gobbel was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI to go with two walks in the series opening 9-1 league win over Chowan and he closed the series with a 3-for-5 game on April 30 in which he drove in five and scored twice with a pair of home runs in a 16-1 victory.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
- Atlantic: Ian Hess, Gannon (Hitter); Ryan Bywaters, Shepherd (Pitcher)
- Central: Matt Miller, Missouri Southern (Hitter); Luke Tupy, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
- East: Alex Rauso, Bridgeport (Hitter); Luke Marshall, Stonehill (Pitcher)
- Midwest: Zion Pettigrew, Illinois-Springfield (Hitter); Spencer Walker, Quincy (Pitcher)
- South: Hayden White, Delta State (Hitter); Luke Williamson, Union (Pitcher)
- South Central: Stacey Bailey, St. Edward’s (Hitter); Kevin Zapanta, Colorado School of Mines (Pitcher)
- Southeast: Ben Gobbel, Belmont Abbey (Hitter); Joshua Lanham, Lenoir-Rhyne (Pitcher)
- West: Kyle Csakan, Cal State San Bernardino (Hitter); Jack Gonzales, Point Loma (Pitcher)
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Howser Award Player of the Year, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.
2022 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
- Feb. 9: Duncan Pastore, Nova Southeastern (Hitter, South); Justin Fuson, Fresno Pacific (Pitcher, West)
- Feb. 16: Harrison Rodgers, Colorado Mesa (Hitter, South Central); Jack O’Brien, Hawaii Pacific (Pitcher, West)
- Feb, 23: Brock Reller, Northeastern State (Hitter, Central); Jeremy Adorno, Southern Arkansas (Pitcher, Central)
- Mar. 2: Zion Pettigrew, Illinois-Springfield (Hitter, Midwest); Dominic Proietto, Kutztown (Pitcher, Atlantic)
- Mar. 9: Lewis Beals, Hillsdale (Hitter, Midwest); Dylan Miller, Point Loma (Pitcher, West)
- Mar. 16: Kade Self, Oklahoma Baptist (Hitter, Central); Kannon Handy, Colorado Mesa (Pitcher, South Central)
- Mar. 23: Sean Johnson, Belmont Abbey (Hitter, Southeast); Lawson Issacs, Central Oklahoma (Pitcher, Central)
- Mar. 30: Drey Dirksen, Augustana (Hitter, Central); Mason Philley, Arkansas-Monticello (Pitcher, Central)
- Apr. 6: Enzo Bonventre, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Hitter, Central); Brody McCullough, Wingate (Pitcher, Southeast)
- Apr. 13: Brennen van Breusegen, Central Missouri (Hitter, Central); Dylan Brosky, California (Pa.) (Pitcher, Atlantic)
- Apr. 20: Caleb Stubbings, UC-Colorado Springs (Hitter, South Central); Colt Webb, Charleston (W.Va.) (Pitcher, Atlantic)
- Apr. 27: Joey Polak, Maryville (Hitter, Midwest); Luke Tupy, St. Cloud State (Pitcher, Central)
- May 4: Ben Gobbel, Belmont Abbey (Hitter, Southeast); Jack Gonzales, Point Loma (Pitcher, West)