DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending on March 1. Quincy senior second baseman Jake Walters is the National Hitter of the Week, while Lenoir-Rhyne senior pitcher Thomas St. Clair is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Walters (St. Louis, Mo.) hit .500 for the week on 6 of 12 from the plate with four home runs, 10 RBI and scored five runs as he helped his team to a 2-1 record with wins over Albany State and Florida Tech. The St. Louis, native, slugged 1.500 lover the three games totaling 18 bases. He went 3 for 5 with two home runs, five RBI in the 12-0 win over Albany State and slammed a three-run home run in the ninth in the win over Florida Tech.
St. Clair (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mount Tabor HS) fanned 17 in a nine-inning, complete game win over Anderson as he scattered just three hits and issued three walks in the 9-0 win over the Trojans.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Jimmy Latona, Mercyhurst (Hitter); Santiago Mendez, Gannon (Pitcher)
• Central: Brian Ray, Arkansas-Monticello (Hitter); Zach Fowlee, Oklahoma Baptist (Pitcher)
• East: Anthony Vaglica, LIU Post (Hitter); Cole Bryant, Southern Connecticut State (Pitcher
• Midwest: Jake Walters, Quincy (Hitter); Ethan Howard, Illinois-Springfield (Pitcher)
• South: Tyler Curtis, Lynn (Hitter); Tyler Joyner, North Alabama (Pitcher)
• South Central: Gable Whitaker, St. Edward's (Hitter); Holden Grounds, St. Mary's (Pitcher)
• Southeast: Luke Setzer, Catawba (Hitter); Thomas St. Clair, Lenoir-Rhyne (Pitcher)
• West: Sean Watkins, Cal State-Los Angeles (Hitter); Mason Hilty, Dixie 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)