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 14, 2024. William Jewell junior outfielder Evan Jilbert, is the National Hitter of the Week and Harding senior righty Maddox Long is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Jilbert (Auburn, Wash. / Auburn) hit .650 (13-for-20) with a .680 on-base percentage in five games. He tallied five home runs and two doubles for a 1.500 slugging percentage. He drove in 18 runs and scored 12 runs, while registering four stolen bases and four walks. He highlighted his outstanding week with a 5-for-5 performance in third game against McKendree, recording three homers and seven RBI. He tied single-game program records for home runs and hits in NCAA era.
Long (Morrilton, Ark. / UA Rich Mountain) improved to 4-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.57 when he defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State, 2-0, on Friday for his first-career shutout. He registered the Bisons’ first shutout of 9.0 innings or more since Carter McCall defeated Arkansas Tech, 1-0, in 10 innings on April 29, 2022. He struck out seven, walked only one and surrendered just three hits.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
- Atlantic: Chris Satcher, Concord University (Hitter); Connor Tingler, Fairmont State (Pitcher)
- Central: Troy Shields, Oklahoma Baptist (Hitter); Maddox Long, Harding (Pitcher)
- East: Brandon Grygo, Wilmington (Hitter); Mike Caldon, Felician (Pitcher)
- Midwest: Evan Jilbert, William Jewell (Hitter); Nick Rutkowski, Grand Valley State (Pitcher)
- South: Anthony Nunez, Tampa (Hitter); Coy Martin, Shorter (Pitcher)
- South Central: Jesse Velders, MSU Denver (Hitter); Rawley Hector, UT Tyler (Pitcher)
- Southeast: Mason Staz, Barton (Hitter); Drew Stegura, Belmont Abbey (Pitcher)
- West: Ben Leid, Central Washington (Hitter); Shea Lake, Cal Poly Pomona (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.
2024 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Feb. 7: Ryan Ball, Lubbock Christian (Hitter, South Central); Cole Gayman, Missouri Southern (Pitcher, Central)
Feb. 14: C.D. White, Northeastern State (Hitter, Central); Jonathan Zayas, Northwest Nazarene (Pitcher, West)]
Feb. 21: Karson Coffee, Pittsburg State (Hitter, Central); Hayden Jatczak, Saginaw Valley State (Pitcher, Midwest)
Feb. 28: Christian Casteneda, Colorado State-Pueblo (Hitter, South Central); Nick McCollum, Georgia Southwestern (Pitcher, Southeast)
March 7: JJ Engman, Cal State Monterey Bay (Hitter, West); Reece Fields, North Greenville, (Pitcher, Southeast)
March 14: Mason Andrews, Colorado School of Mines (Hitter, South Central); Caleb Saari, Augustana (S.D.) (Pitcher, Central)
March 21: Jacob Guerrero, Angelo State (Hitter, South Central); Griffin Kilander, Wayne State (Mich.) (Pitcher, Midwest)
March 28: EJ Cumbo, Tampa (Hitter, South); Peter Tveite, Winona State (Pitcher, Central)
Aprril 4: Isaac Nett, Southwest Minnesota State (Hitter, Central); Jake Covey, Concordia University Irvine (Pitcher, West)
April 11: Zach Schuler, MSU Denver (Hitter, South Central); Mike Morawski, Grand Valley State (Pitcher, Midwest)
April 18: Evan Hilbert, William Jewell (Hitter, Midwest); Maddox Long, Harding (Pitcher, Central)