DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its weekly NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards of the season for the period ending March 3. Indiana (Pa.) senior shortstop Dylan Tice is the National Hitter of the Week while Southern New Hampshire junior righthander Junior Mendez is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Dylan Tice (Perkasie, Pa.) hit a blistering .800 to help IUP to a 3-0 weekend in Frederick, Md. His weekend was highlighted by a 5-for-5 outing against Bluefield State, scoring two runs with a double, four RBI and a pair of stolen bases. Tice also went 4-5 with two runs against WV Tech and 3-5 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. He finished 12-15 with six RBI, six runs, two doubles and three stolen bases. For the season, Tice is hitting .656 with 21 hits and 12 RBI in just seven games.
Junior Mendez (Patchogue, N.Y.) tossed Southern New Hampshires second no-hitter of the season, fanning 15 without issuing a walk, in a 2-0 victory over University of the Sciences Sunday. He also faced the minimum 27 batters as one batter reached via error but was later erased on a double play. For the season, Mendez is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, allowing just one unearned run on three hits, while walking nobody and striking out 26 batters. This is the second national pitching award for Southern New Hampshire. Tim Flight won the same award for the Penmen on March 28, 2012.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Atlantic: Atlantic: Dylan Tice, Indiana (Pa.) (Hitter); Lou Trivino, Slippery Rock (Pitcher)
· Central: Kyle Daulton, Concordia, St. Paul (Hitter); John Hayes, Concordia, St. Paul (Pitcher)
· East: Kyle Cullen, New Haven (Hitter); Junior Mendez, Southern New Hampshire (Pitcher)
· Midwest: None
· South: Zach Persky, Rollins (Hitter); Vinnie Contaldi, Nova Southeastern (Pitcher)
· South Central: Nick Billinger, Regis (Hitter); Steven Brault, Regis (Pitcher)
· Southeast: Clay Ardeeser, Georgia College (Hitter); Adam Sigmon, Tusculum (Pitcher)
· West: Kyle Sani, Central Washington (Hitter); Jordan Sechler, Cal State-LA (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.
2013 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Feb. 10: Lee Neumann, Angelo State (Hitter); Nick Fogarty, Valdosta State (Pitcher)
· Feb. 17: Josh Wenger, Concord (Hitter); Ryan Goodbrand, UC San Diego (Pitcher)
· Feb. 24: Connor McCain, Alabama-Huntsville (Hitter); Chris Murphy, Millersville (Pitcher)
· March 3: Dylan Tice, Indiana, Pa. (Hitter); Junior Mendez, Southern New Hampshire (Pitcher)
· March 10: Gioncarlo Brugnoni, Grand Valley State (Hitter); Shane Trattles, Mary (Pitcher)
· March 17: Kyle Giusti, Abilene Christian (Hitter); Chris Murphy, Millersville (Pitcher)
· March 24: Charlie Sharrer, Cal State-East Bay (Hitter); Scott Lieser, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
· March 31: Colton Little, Colorado Mesa (Hitter); Dylan James, West Texas A&M (Pitcher)
· April 7: Nate Olinger, Colorado Mines (Hitter); Stephen Cooke, Indiana (Pa.) (Pitcher)
· April 14: Ryan Messina, Shepard (Hitter); Dallas Ponder, Texas A&M-Kingsville (Pitcher)
· April 21: Brady Capshaw, Southern Arkansas (Hitter); Robert Frank, St. Thomas Aquanis (Pitcher)
· April 28: Jacob Nelson, Metro State (Hitter); Collin Sherrod, St. Edward's (Pitcher)
· May 5: Zach Bricknell, Young Harris (Hitter); Brian Ernst, East Stroudsburg (Pitcher)