DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending on March 17. MSU Denver senior infielder Matt Malkin is the National Hitter of the Week, Tusculum senior pitcher Charles Hall is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Malkin (Broomfield, Colo./Alabama) homered in all four games for MSU Denver to be named the RMAC Player of the Week. Malkin went 11 for 18 (.611) with 12 RBIs, four doubles, six runs and two stolen bases. He also walked twice. He has homered in five-straight games and in eight of his last nine.
Hall (Dumfries, Va./Catawba Valley CC) broke the NCAA Division II single-game record with 22 strikeouts as he pitched a 9-inning, complete game, in TU's 10-1 win over Queens Friday. He broke the D-II national mark previously held by five other pitchers, with the most recent coming on April 1, 1999, when Nate Kosoc of Saint Rose fanned 21 batters against NJIT. Hall's 22-strikeout effort ranks seventh for all NCAA divisions. Hall achieved the record feat on 123 pitches as he struck out every Royals batter at least once including eight of the nine Queens' hitters at least two times each. Hall recorded two strikeouts in every inning and fanned the side four times including the first, second, fifth and sixth innings. Sixteen were swinging strikeouts while six came looking. Hall leads the nation with his 88 strikeouts this year and has struck out 10 or more batters in six consecutive starts.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Atlantic: Jared Carr, Shepherd (Hitter); R.J. Vanvickle, UVA-Wise (Pitcher)
· Central: Jordan Barth, Augustana (Hitter); Zach Parrish, Missouri Southern (Pitcher)
· East: Eric Roubal, Queens (N.Y.) (Hitter); Michael Gutierrez, Felician (Pitcher)
· Midwest: Javier Lopez, Trevecca Nazarene (Hitter); Dalton Erger, Missouri S&T (Pitcher)
· South: Alec Aleywine, Tampa (Hitter); Daniel Floyd, West Florida (Pitcher)
· South Central: Matt Malkin, MSU Denver (Hitter); Nathan Dockery, Lubbock Christian (Pitcher)
· Southeast: Elijah Helton, UNC Pembroke (Hitter); Charles Hall, Tusculum (Pitcher)
· West: Shay Whitcomb, UC San Diego (Hitter); Brooks Zimmer, 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.
2019 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Week ending Feb. 17: John Michael Faile, North Greenville (Hitter); Will Bausinger, Missouri Southern State (Pitcher)
· Week ending Feb. 24: Matt Chamberlain, New Haven (Hitter); Cooper Cain, Valdosta State (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 3: Zavier Lushington, Young Harris (Hitter); Jack Eisenbarger, Rockhurst (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 10: Jacob Teter, Florida Southern (Hitter); Grant Larson, Chico State (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 17: Matt Malkin, MSU Denver (Hitter); Charles Hall, Tusculum (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 24: Marquise Lanier, Chowan (Hitter); Savontae Williams, Tuskegee (Pitcher)
· Week ending March 31: Tido Robles, Azusa Pacific (Hitter); Alex Roth, Western Oregon (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 7: Trevor Kehe, Colorado School of Mines (Hitter); Max Bain, Northwood (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 14: Josh Elvir, Angelo State (Hitter); Colby Shimmel, Barton (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 21: Max Troiani, Bentley (Hitter); Hayden Jaco, Cameron (Pitcher)
· Week ending April 28: Neil Fischer, Lindenwood (Hitter); Tyler Garbee, Mercyhurst (Pitcher)
· Week ending May 5: Auggie Francis, New Mexico Highlands (Hitter); Deven Judy, Gannon (Pitcher)