DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released the 2018 NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending on March 26. Shepherd junior outfielder Nick Atkinson is the National Hitter of the Week, while Glenville State freshman pitcher Adam Riggleman is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Atkinson (Manassas, Va.) hit .625 (10-for-16) with .667 on-base percentage and 1.625 slugging percentage in 4-0 week vs. MEC foes. He had two doubles, a triple, four home runs, two walks, nine RBI, ten runs and went 2-for-2 stolen bases, while going 7 of 10 hits for extra bases.
Riggleman (Elkins, W.Va.) threw no-hitter (7.0 IP) in 9-0 win at Wheeling Jesuit on Sunday with nine strikeouts, one walk, one HBP. It was Glenville's first no-hitter since return of baseball in 2012 (discontinued in 1982).
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Atlantic: Nick Atkinson, Shepherd (Hitter); Adam Riggleman, Glenville State (Pitcher)
· Central: Alex Achtermann, Nebraska-Kearney (Hitter); David Flattery, Augustana (S.D.) (Pitcher)
· East: Trevor Cykowski, Felician (Hitter); Dan Wirchansky, Pace (Pitcher)
· Midwest: Justin Childers, Ohio Dominican (Hitter); Austin Simms, Drury (Pitcher)
· South: Tom Archer, Lynn (Hitter); Cole Waites, West Alabama (Pitcher)
· South Central: Donny Ortiz, Jr., Metro State (Hitter); Callan Johnson, Lubbock Christian (Pitcher)
· Southeast: Tristin Smith, Young Harris (Hitter); Mitch Spence, South Carolina-Aiken (Pitcher)
· West: John Balliet, Point Loma (Hitter); Isaiah Carranza, Azusa Pacific (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.
2018 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Week ending Feb. 19: Austin Norman, Fairmont State (Hitter); Dillon Cate, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
· Week ending Feb. 26: Chance Bowden, Catawba (Hitter); Jumpei Akanuma, Lee University (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 5: Andrew Taft, LeMoyne (Hitter); Dan Wirchansky, Pace (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 12: Francisco Rodriguez, Tarleton State (Hitter); Kyle Leahy, Colorado Mesa (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 19: Zack Shannon, Delta State (Hitter); Josh Gaworski, Concordia-St. Paul (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 26: Nick Atkinson, Shepherd (Hitter); Adam Riggleman, Glenville State (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 2: Matt Honeycutt, Mars Hill (Hitter); Dalton Morrow, Southwest Baptist (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 9: Mikey Gangwish, Colorado School of Mines (Hitter); Kyle Flessner, Purdue Northwest (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 16: Ted DeSanti, Indiana, Pa. (Hitter); Ryan Murphy, LeMoyne (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 23: Griffin Baker, Belmont Abbey (Hitter); Clay Casey, Delta State (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 30: Mondesi Gutierrez, Northwest Missouri State (Hitter); Grant Wolfram, Davenport (Pitcher)