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 24. New Haven junior outfielder Matt Chamberlain is the National Hitter of the Week, while Valdosta State junior pitcher Cooper Cain is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn.) hit .588 (10-for-17) with nineruns scored and 13 RBI and four home runs over the Chargers four games last week to start the season (.588/.667/1.353 slash line). He had three walks and two stolen bases during the week, and recorded at least two hits in each of the first four games. Chamberlain started the season 2-for-3 with three runs scored, including a two-run home run against Wilmington. He followed that up by going 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run against Felician in game one of Saturdays doubleheader. In game two against No. 18 Saint Thomas Aquinas, Chamberlain went 3-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and two home runs, including a ninth inning grand slam that helped New Haven to a dominating 17-1 victory. Chamberlain capped off his stellar weekend by going 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and one RBI, which came on a solo home run in the sixth inning of the Chargers· 14-7 win over Concordia.
Cain (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) tossed his first career no-hitter in an 8-1 win over Kentucky Wesleyan. He also had a career-high 14 strikeouts in the game, which is the best mark in a single game in the Gulf South Conference this season. It was the sixth no-hitter in school history for the Blazers.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Atlantic: Brock Kauffman, East Stroudsburg (Hitter); Cordell Shannon, Millersville (Pitcher)
· Central: Brock Carter, Oklahoma Baptist (Hitter); Mason Whitmarsh, Southeastern Oklahoma State (Pitcher)
· East: Matt Chamberlain, New Haven (Hitter); Dean Fazah, NYIT (Pitcher)
· Midwest: Brandt Ollinger, Drury (Hitter); David LeMasters, Lake Erie (Pitcher)
· South: Jake Barlow, Delta State (Hitter); Cooper Cain, Valdosta State (Pitcher)
· South Central: Tyler Parker, Tarleton State (Hitter); Garrett Hudson, Colorado Mesa (Pitcher)
· Southeast: Bryson Ford, Tusculum (Hitter); Ethan Elliott, Lincoln Memorial (Pitcher)
· West: Brian Morley, Cal State Monterey Bay (Hitter); Tim Holdgrafer, Cal Poly Pomona (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.
2019 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Week ending Feb. 17: John Michael Faile, North Greenville (Hitter); Will Bausinger, Missouri Southern State (Pitcher)
· Week ending Feb. 24: Matt Chamberlain, New Haven (Hitter); Cooper Cain, Valdosta State (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 3: Zavier Lushington, Young Harris (Hitter); Jack Eisenbarger, Rockhurst (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 10: Jacob Teter, Florida Southern (Hitter); Grant Larson, Chico State (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 17: Matt Malkin, MSU Denver (Hitter); Charles Hall, Tusculum (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 24: Marquise Lanier, Chowan (Hitter); Savontae Williams, Tuskegee (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 31: Tido Robles, Azusa Pacific (Hitter); Alex Roth, Western Oregon (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 7: Trevor Kehe, Colorado School of Mines (Hitter); Max Bain, Northwood (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 14: Josh Elvir, Angelo State (Hitter); Colby Shimmel, Barton (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 21: Max Troiani, Bentley (Hitter); Hayden Jaco, Cameron (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 28: Neil Fischer, Lindenwood (Hitter); Tyler Garbee, Mercyhurst (Pitcher)
· Week ending May 5: Auggie Francis, New Mexico Highlands (Hitter); Deven Judy, Gannon (Pitcher)