DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its first NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the 2025 season and the week ending on February 16, 2025. Florida Southern graduate outfielder Ahmad Fitts, is the National Hitter of the Week and Lubbock Christian (Texas) senior lefty Ryan Markwardt is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Fitts (Valrico, Fla. / Durant HS) hit five home runs, drove in 12 runners, and scored seven times as Florida Southern went 4-0 last week. He began the week with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate in a 12-2 non-conference win over Eckerd, in which he had three home runs, including a grand slam. In FSC's three-game sweep of USC Beaufort, Fitts was 4-for-11 with six RBI, four runs scored, two home runs, and a double. Over the four games, he tallied two walks, one HBP, and two stolen bases in three attempts. Fitts finished the week with a .467 batting average, a .579 on-base percentage, and a 1.500 slugging percentage.
Markwardt (Itasca, Texas / Hill College) tossed a complete-game, one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and no walks against Oklahoma Christian. In the first inning, Markwardt surrendered a leadoff single and hit one batter, who was caught stealing for the second out. He went on to retire the final 19 batters he faced. Markwardt needed just 92 pitches over the seven frames.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
- - Atlantic: Joe Fiedor, Seton Hill (Hitter); No Nominee
- - Central: Chaz Poppy, Arkansas-Monticello (Hitter); Maddox Long, Harding (Pitcher)
- - East: No Nominees
- - Midwest: Easton Good, Indianapolis (Hitter); Diego Cardenas, Indianapolis (Pitcher)
- - South: Ahmad Fitts, Florida Southern (Hitter); Dane Hall, Palm Beach Atlantic (Pitcher)
- - South Central: Kyle Micklus, West Texas A&M (Hitter); Ryan Markwardt, Lubbock Christian (Pitcher)
- - Southeast: Evan Harding, Barton (Hitter); Tanner Folds, Shorter (Pitcher)
- - West: Bryan Rojas, Northwest Nazarene (Hitter); Cole Calnon, Northwest Nazarene (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.
2025 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Feb. 6: Lance Barnett, Cameron (Hitter, South Central); Drake LaRoche, Valdosta State (Pitcher, South)
Feb. 13: Brevin McCool, Lubbock Christian (Hitter, South Central); Kolby Dougan, Pittsburg State (Pitcher, Central)
Feb. 20: Ahmad Fitts, Florida Southern (Hitter, South); Ryan Markwardt, Lubbock Christian (Pitcher, South Central)