DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending on February 22. University of Tampa senior infielder/catcher J.D. Osbourne is the National Hitter of the Week, while Lynn (Fla.) senior pitcher Donovan Armas is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Osbourne (Whitby, Ontario, Canada/Polk State College) earned Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week honors after leading Tampa to a series win over No. 23 Southern Indiana. Starting in all three games, Osbourne recorded a .615 batting average, along with a .643 on-base percentage and slugged 1.358 against the Screaming Eagles. He went 8 of 13 from the plate, tallied nine RBI, six runs, three home runs, a double and a walk. His top game was in the last game as he went 4 for 4 with three runs scored, three RBI, a home run and a walk.
Armas (Bellarose Village, N.Y./Broward College) earned Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Week honors after a dominant start against No. 27 North Georgia. Armas picked up his second win of the season, throwing eight scoreless innings, allowing one hit. He walked two and fanned a season-high 10 batters in the win.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: TJ Lett, Notre Dame, Ohio (Hitter); Terence Berry, Lincoln (Pa.) (Pitcher)
• Central: Max Hogan, Missouri Southern (Hitter); Kyle Wilson, Arkansas Tech (Pitcher)
• East: No nominees
• Midwest: Wes Birchmeier, Lake Erie (Hitter); Joe Huber, Rockhurst (Pitcher)
• South: J.D. Osbourne, Tampa (Hitter); Donovan Armas, Lynn (Pitcher)
• South Central: Caleb Koedyker, Lubbock Christian (Hitter); Seth Hubert, Texas A&M-Kingsville (Pitcher)
• Southeast: Luke Setzer, Catawba (Hitter); Austin Hutchinson, Mount Olive (Pitcher)
• West: Zach Robinson, Montana State Billings (Hitter); Cam Greenough, Chico State (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.
2017 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Week ending Feb. 22: J.D. Osbourne, Tampa (Hitter); Donovan Armas, Lynn (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 1: Jake Walters, Quincy (Hitter); Thomas St. Clair, Lenoir-Rhyne (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 8: J.D. Osbourne, Tampa (Hitter); Trevor Abshire, Point Loma Nazarene (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 15: Adrian Tovalin, Azusa Pacific (Hitter); Joshua Payne, West Texas A&M (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 22: Andrew Webster, Barton (Hitter); Gus Varland, Concordia-St. Paul (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 29: Ryan Rogers, Lubbock Christian (Hitter); Garett King, California Baptist (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 4: Tyler Walters, Slippery Rock (Hitter); Steven Bower, North Georgia (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 11: Justin Graff-Rowe, Central Missouri (Hitter); Will Myers, Alabama-Huntsville (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 18: Cole Brooks, Saginaw Valley State (Hitter); Jason Blank, Augustana (S.D.) (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 25: Brian Parreira, USC Aiken (Hitter); John Holland, Felician (Pitcher)
· Week ending May 2: Blaine Crim, Mississippi College (Hitter); Parker Dyson, West Liberty (Pitcher)
· Week ending May 9: Chris Devery, Colorado State-Pueblo (Hitter); Sean Horner, Palm Beach Atlantic (Pitcher)