Parker, Kraft are NCBWA Division II National Players of the Week

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 2, 2023.  Missouri Southern State sophomore utility Treghan Parker, is the National Hitter of the Week and Academy of Art sophomore lefty Brian Kraft is the National Pitcher of the Week. 

Parker (Webb City, Mo. / Webb City HS) smashed six home runs and drove in 15 runs over five games played last week, slashing .429/.520/1.286 for a 1.806 OPS as Missouri Southern State went 4-1. Parker produced a pair of multi-homer games including blasting three in the series opener at Fort Hays State – adding three straight multi-hit games with two three-hit contests. The slugger drove in five, three and seven runs in consecutive games while raising his average by nearly 50 points over the week.

Kraft (San Diego, Calif. / Pacific University Oregon) found a grand way to pick up his first win of the season. Kraft no-hit Concordia University Irvine in a seven-inning contest, fanning a career-high 10 batters during the 8-1 win. The San Diego native struck out four of the final five batters he faced to notch the win to improve to 1-2 on the season. He walked four Golden Eagle batters and allowed one run on the day.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:

  • Atlantic: Nathan Paulsen, West Virginia State (Hitter); Chase Nowak, East Stroudsburg (Pitcher)
  • Central: Treghan Parker, Missouri Southern State (Hitter); Emiliano Mata, Arkansas Tech (Pitcher)
  • East: Jack McDonald, Wilmington (Hitter); Ryan Kehoe, College of Staten Island (Pitcher)
  • Midwest: Wes Collins, Drury (Hitter); Jay Hammel, Quincy (Pitcher)
  • South: Bryce Safferwich, Florida Southern College (Hitter); Mike Reagan, Barry (Pitcher)
  • South Central: Kaston Mason, UT Tyler (Hitter); Wesley Gafford, St. Edward’s (Pitcher)
  • Southeast: Jeremy Begora, Young Harris (Hitter); Gage Voorhees, Flagler College (Pitcher)
  • West: Austin Ohland, Central Washington (Hitter); Brian Kraft, Academy of Art (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.