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 21, 2024. William Jewell senior shortstop Alex Epp is the National Hitter of the Week and Pitt-Johnstown junior Rodney Schultz is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Epp (Wichita, Kan. / Maize South HS) hit .619 (13-for-21) with a .705 on-base percentage in five games. He ripped three home runs with six doubles for a 1.333 slugging percentage, while he drove in 13 runs and scored 11. Epp had two stolen baes and drew five free passes. The week was highlighted by a 3-for-5 performance in the third game against Truman State, registering one home run and drove in six.
Schultz (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone HS) tossed a complete-game no-hitter in Pitt-Johnstown's 1-0 victory over Mercyhurst to open the four-game PSAC Western Division series last Saturday. He allowed just one walk and struck out eight in 90 pitches, facing just one batter over the minimum.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
- Atlantic: Jacob Houtz, Mansfield (Hitter); Rodney Schultz, Pitt-Johnstown (Pitcher)
- Central: Camden Tanner, Arkansas-Monticello (Hitter); Cole Gaynman, Missouri Southern (Pitcher)
- East: Joe Pellegrino, Adelphi (Hitter); Colton Reitan, Adelphi (Pitcher)
- Midwest: Alex Epp, William Jewell (Hitter); Sam Leck, Grand Valley State (Pitcher)
- South: Darrien McDowell, West Florida (Hitter); Eli Snelson, Union (Tenn.) (Pitcher)
- South Central: Paul Schoenfeld, Colorado Mesa (Hitter); Jack Granack, St. Edward’s (Pitcher)
- Southeast: Brett Adams, Wingate (Hitter); Corbin Dickenson, King (Pitcher)
- West: Jacob Mejia, Cal State San Bernardino (Hitter); Arturo Alvarez, Western Oregon (Pitcher)
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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)
April 25: Alex Epp, William Jewell (Hitter, Midwest); Rodney Schultz, Pitt-Johnstown (Pitcher, Atlantic)