DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending March 8. Adams State freshman designated hitter Osaias Hinojosa is the National Hitter of the Week and Central Missouri freshman righthander Gavin Williams is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Hinojosa (Escondido, Calif. / San Pasqual HS) powered his way to five home runs and 18 RBI in a four-game series against Colorado School of Mines. He batted .563 (9-for-16) with a .632 on-base percentage and a 1.563 slugging percentage during the series. Hinojosa opened the weekend going 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in the ninth inning of a 13-11 loss. In the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, he blasted two home runs, including a ninth-inning grand slam, and finished 2-for-4 with six RBI in a 17-9 loss. He continued his surge in the nightcap, producing a 3-for-4 performance with five RBI that included a three-run home run, an RBI single and a bases-loaded walk in a 26-12 victory. Hinojosa capped the series Monday with another 3-for-4 effort and five RBI, highlighted by a three-run home run that put Adams State ahead for good and a two-run single that helped seal a 9-7 victory.
Williams (St. Elizabeth, Mo. / St. Elizabeth HS), in his first career start, threw the ninth no-hitter in Central Missouri baseball history, leading the Mules to a 16-0, seven-inning victory over Missouri Western in the second game of a doubleheader March 7 in Warrensburg. The no-hitter was the program’s first since a combined effort in 2018 and the first solo no-hitter since Danny Powers accomplished the feat in 2004. Williams became just the seventh pitcher in program history to throw a solo no-hitter. The freshman struck out a career-high 11 and walked two while throwing 101 pitches in the run-rule victory over the Griffons.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
- Atlantic: AJ Wenrich, Shippensburg (Hitter); Julian Costa, West Chester (Pitcher)
- Central: Bjorn Lind, Augustana (Hitter); Gavin Williams, Central Missouri (Pitcher)
- East: Roman Keith, Golden-Beacom (Hitter); Aidan Kempf, Pace (Pitcher)
- Midwest: Steven Schnieder, Maryville (Hitter); Rocco Conrad, Quincy (Pitcher)
- South: Alex Johnson, Mississippi College (Hitter); Baker Green, West Alabama (Pitcher)
- South Central: Osaias Hinojosa, Adams State (Hitter); Aaron Rubio, Lubbock Christian (Pitcher)
- Southeast: Brody Yeomans, North Georgia (Hitter); Evan Koehler, Georgia Southwestern (Pitcher)
- West: Kaden Bertram, Montana State-Billings (Hitter); Brennen Chappell, Montana State-Billings (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.
2026 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
• Feb. 5: Derek Woolwine, Fort Hays State (Hitter); Ben Shepherd, USC Aiken (Pitcher)
• Feb. 12: Braeden Harrison, Anderson (Hitter); Cole Evans, Missouri Western (Pitcher)
• Feb. 19: Austin Beck, Angelo State (Hitter); Colby Deaver, Emporia State (Pitcher)
• Feb. 26: Eli Marvin, Arkansas-Monticello (Hitter); Jack Sequin, Saginaw Valley State (Pitcher)
• March 5: Dagen Brewer, Pittsburg State (Hitter); Keaton Prior, Georgia College & State (Pitcher)
• March 12: Osaias Hinojosa, Adams State (Hitter); Gavin Williams, Central Missouri (Pitcher)