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 4. Slippery Rock junior catcher/outfielder Tyler Walters is the National Hitter of the Week, while North Georgia sophomore left-handed pitcher Steven Bower is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Walters (Saegertown, Pa./Saegertown HS), hit .889 (8-for-9) with a .900 on-base percentage and 2.000 slugging percentage in doubleheader sweep vs. Pitt-Johnstown, extending SRUs win streak to 10 games. In the series, he had four doubles, two home runs, 11 RBI, seven runs, a walk, while going 1-for-1 stolen bases in twin bill. He went 3-for-4, with two doubles, a home run, five RBI and four runs in opener. In the nightcap, he went 5-for-5 with two doubles a home run, drove in six, while scoring three times. His two home runs move him past Matt Adams, current St Louis Cardinals outfielder, for 2nd on SRU home run list.
Bower (Lawrenceville, Ga./Peachtree Ridge HS) threw the first no-hitter in school history on Friday as he shut out Montevallo 10-0. He struck out 10 and walked three, completing the game with 107 pitches thrown, 67 for strikes. Bowers no-hitter is only the fifth in a PBC conference game and the first since 2005, it is also the first no-hitter in the league this season and the first in any game by a PBC pitcher since 2014.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Atlantic: Tyler Walters, Slippery Rock (Hitter); Perry DellaValle, Seton Hill (Pitcher)
· Central: Butch Rea, Northeastern State (Hitter); Carson McPherson, Oklahoma Baptist (Pitcher)
· East: Angelo Navetta, Malloy (Hitter); Dan Wirchansky, Pace (Pitcher)
· Midwest: Adam Fitzgibbon, Saginaw Valley State (Hitter); Joshua Hurford, Malone (Pitcher)
· South: Zack Shannon, Delta State (Hitter); Zach Ingram, Mississippi College (Pitcher)
· South Central: Gable Whitacre, St. Edward·s (Hitter); Kyle Leahy, Colorado Mesa (Pitcher)
· Southeast: Brandon Benson, Georgia College (Hitter); Steven Bower, North Georgia (Pitcher)
· West: Bailey Collins, Concordia-Irvine (Hitter); Mason Hilty, Dixie State (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./p>
2017 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Week ending Feb. 22: J.D. Osbourne, Tampa (Hitter); Donovan Armas, Lynn (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 1: Jake Walters, Quincy (Hitter); Thomas St. Clair, Lenoir-Rhyne (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 8: J.D. Osbourne, Tampa (Hitter); Trevor Abshire, Point Loma Nazarene (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 15: Adrian Tovalin, Azusa Pacific (Hitter); Joshua Payne, West Texas A&M (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 22: Andrew Webster, Barton (Hitter); Gus Varland, Concordia-St. Paul (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 29: Ryan Rogers, Lubbock Christian (Hitter); Garett King, California Baptist (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 4: Tyler Walters, Slippery Rock (Hitter); Steven Bower, North Georgia (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 11: Justin Graff-Rowe, Central Missouri (Hitter); Will Myers, Alabama-Huntsville (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 18: Cole Brooks, Saginaw Valley State (Hitter); Jason Blank, Augustana (S.D.) (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 25: Brian Parreira, USC Aiken (Hitter); John Holland, Felician (Pitcher)
· Week ending May 2: Blaine Crim, Mississippi College (Hitter); Parker Dyson, West Liberty (Pitcher)
· Week ending May 9: Chris Devery, Colorado State-Pueblo (Hitter); Sean Horner, Palm Beach Atlantic (Pitcher)