DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending on April 15. Bentley junior outfielder Max Troiani is the National Hitter of the Week, and Cameron senior pitcher Hayden Jaco is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Troiani (Pittsfield, N.Y) went 12-15 (.800) helped lead the Falcons to three wins, including two over No. 4 Southern New Hampshire. Troiani had an incredible week as he homered five times and had a 1.769 slugging percentage. He homered in each game, including three times, all while leading off an inning, in Fridays 4-3 win at SNHU. His first led off the game, his second tied the game at 3-3 and his third broke the deadlock in the top of the eight. Overall during the week, he was 7-for-13 with 8 RBI, 5 runs scored and 23 total bases. Troiani became the first Bentley player to homer three times in a game since the switch to wood in 2002.
Jaco, (Coquitlam, British Columbia) the Aggies primary catcher, got the start in game three of their series against Eastern New Mexico and threw the program's first no-hitter since 2013. The senior went all seven innings, with his only blemishes being a pair of hit batters and an error in the third inning. Jaco also struck out eight batters and drove in a pair of runs at the plate in the 11-0 victory. Additionally, the British Columbia native tallied six hits, drove in 11 runs, and scored four times in the four-game series.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Atlantic: Joe Zirolli, West Chester (Hitter); Scott Leitholf, Lock Haven (Pitcher)
· Central: Jordan Joseph, St. Cloud State (Hitter); Zach Parish, Missouri Southern (Pitcher)
· East: Max Troiani, Bentley (Hitter); Sean Deely, Wilmington (Pitcher)
· Midwest: Anthony Rios, Lewis (Hitter); Nick Stroud, Quincy (Pitcher)
· South: Jacob Bisharat, Miles (Hitter); Dillon McCollough, Eckerd (Pitcher)
· South Central: Trevor Kehe, Colorado School of Mines (Hitter); Hayden Jaco, Cameron (Pitcher)
· Southeast: Jake Nichols, Emmanuel (Hitter); Josh Bookbinder, Newberry (Pitcher)
· West: Micah Pries, Point Loma (Hitter); Grant Larson, 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.
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)