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 30. Lindenwood junior first baseman Neil Fischer is the National Hitter of the Week, and Mercyhurst senior pitcher Tyler Garbee is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Fischer (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis CC) was dominant at the plate last week hitting .733 (11-for-15) with a 1.267 slugging percentage and a .800 on-base percentage. He drove in 14 runs while belting two home runs and two doubles. Fischer scored five times, drew four walks, and was hit by a pitch in his four starts. In the series against Northwest Missouri, he had three hits in each of the three games played and tallied 12 RBI.
Garbee, (Sewickey, Pa./Pittsburgh) went the distance and recorded a no-hitter in the third game in a series against Slippery Rock. In the process, he also struck out 12 batters and earned the shutout in the 2-0 victory. In the most recent conference series with Clarion, the senior from Sewickley, Pa. pitched a complete game only allowing one run and recording 11 strikeouts. This would mark a team-high, six wins for Garbee.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Atlantic: Ryan Shiffer, Bloomsburg (Hitter); Tyler Garbee, Mercyhurst (Pitcher)
· Central: Neil Fischer, Lindenwood (Hitter); Jake Lipetzky, Oklahoma Baptist (Pitcher)
· East: John Mooradian, Mercy (Hitter); Riley Sorenson, Merrimack (Pitcher)
· Midwest: Cody Klotz, Maryville (Hitter); Mitchell Bault, Ohio Dominican (Pitcher)
· South: Davis Lott, Montevallo (Hitter); Dillon McCollough, Eckerd (Pitcher)
· South Central: Travis Young, Arkansas Fort Smith (Hitter); Chandler Casey, Lubbock Christian (Pitcher)
· Southeast: Jeffrey Chandler, Jr., North Greenville (Hitter); Jake Isabell, Mount Olive (Pitcher)
· West: Daniel Cipriano, Montana State Billings (Hitter); Austin Crowson, Western Oregon (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)