DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week awards presented by The Game Headwear for the period ending March 1. Duke junior catcher/right fielder Cider Canon and Minnesota senior catcher Weber Neels named National Co-Hitters of the Week, while Louisiana graduate student left-handed pitcher Andrew Herrmann was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Canon went 9-for-14 (.643) in Duke's five games, helping the Blue Devils post a midweek victory at UNCW and secure a win in their weekend series against Princeton. The San Marino, California, native tallied four home runs, increasing his season total to six, and drove in 10 runs, to give him 21 on the young season. His productivity at the plate was also shown with five walks, compared to just three strikeouts, and he made an impact on the basepaths as well, swiping three bags. With his all-around effort, Canon logged a 1.571 slugging percentage and a .714 on-base percentage, good for a 2.285 OPS.
On defense, Canon made three starts at catcher and one in right field, while also playing one game as the designated hitter. He maintained his perfect fielding percentage, while also throwing out two opponents on attempted steals.
Neels batted .714, going 10-for-14 on the week with four home runs and nine RBI. He slashed .737 on-base percentage, and 1.714 slugging percentage, helping the Gophers to a 2-2 week against Kansas. Neels tallied nine runs batted in and four home runs, including a three-run home run on Wednesday to compile 24 total bases. Neels also tallied two stolen bases and defensively made 46 putouts behind the plate, a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Herrmann tossed the first complete-game, 1-hit shutout by a Louisiana pitcher since April 2016 in an 8-0 win over UC San Diego on Saturday. The Kennesaw, Georgia, native retired the final 10 batters he faced after allowing a two-out single in the sixth inning. He struck out a career-high 13 batters with three walks and a hit batter.
Herrmann retired the side in order in the first and fourth innings before shutting the Tritons down after the sixth-inning single. He allowed two runners to reach second in recording his second career complete-game. He fanned batters in eight of the nine innings, with three straight batters between the third and fourth innings and four straight between the eighth and ninth.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, ncbwa.com. For more information, contact NCBWA Executive Associate Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).
2026 Dick Howser Trophy National Players of the Week
• Week ending Feb. 15: Tyce Armstrong, r-Sr., 1B, Baylor, Dee Kennedy, Jr., SS, Kansas State (Hitters); Chris Olivier, Sr., RHP, Lamar (Pitcher)
• Week ending Feb. 22: Will Gasparino, Jr., OF, UCLA (Hitter); Colin Fisher, Jr., LHP, Arkansas, Dax Whitney, So., RHP, Oregon State (Pitchers)
• Week ending March 1: Cider Cannon, Jr., C/RF, Duke, Weber Neels, Sr., C, Minnesota (Hitter); Andrew Herrmann, LHP, Graduate Student, Louisiana (Pitcher)