DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards the week ending on March 9, 2025. Central Washington senior utility Brandham Ponce, is the National Hitter of the Week and Augustana (S.D.) junior pitcher J.D. Hennen is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Ponce (Federal Way, Wash. / Washington State) helped lead the Central Washington Wildcats to a four-game sweep of Western Oregon with a monstrous week at the plate. Overall in the series, Ponce slashed .563/.611/1.313 with four home runs, 14 RBIs, eight runs scored, and nine hits. He kicked things off with a seven-RBI performance in the series opener, homering twice to lead his team to victory. He capped the four-game set by going 4-for-5 with five RBIs and three runs scored and hitting his fourth home run of the weekend.
Hennen (Mantua, N.J. / Clearview HS) threw the first no-hitter in the NSIC while earning a win in 15-0 win over Bemidji State on Sunday. He struck out 15 in a seven inning, run rule shortened game, two behind a program record. Ponce forced 25 whiffs on 90 pitches and worked two-strike counts on both hitters who reached base. He also induced three flyouts and three groundouts in the win.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
- Atlantic: Wes Parker, Gannon (Hitter); Tyler Wilkinson, Fairmont State (Pitcher)
- Central: Vance Tobol, Central Missouri (Hitter); J.D. Hennen, Augustana (Pitcher)
- East: Sean Welsh, Molloy (Hitter); Colin Blake, Southern Connecticut (Pitcher)
- Midwest: Angel Rades, Wisconsin Parkside (Hitter); Keegan Batka, Davenport (Pitcher)
- South: Cole Fowler, Lynn (Hitter); Drake Fontenot, Delta State (Pitcher)
- South Central: Brevin McCool, Lubbock Christian (Hitter); Julius Carpio, West Texas A&M (Pitcher)
- Southeast: Grant Sherrod, Lander (Hitter); Seth Crowe, Shorter (Pitcher)
- West: Brandham Ponce, Central Washington (Hitter); David Eichhorn, San Francisco State (Pitcher)
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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)
• Feb. 27: Jackson Babcock, Colorado School of Mines (Hitter, South Central); Maddox Long, Harding (Pitcher, Central)
• March. 6: Dylan Fesperman, West Texas A&M (Hitter, South Central); Julian Costa, West Chester (Pitcher, Atlantic)
• March 13: Brandham Ponce, Central Washington (Hitter, West); J.D. Hennen, Augustana (Pitcher, Central)