DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending on May 5, 2024. Salem junior outfielder/first base Mackenzie Wainwright, is the National Hitter of the Week and Wayne State (Mich.) senior hurler Karter Fitzpatrick is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Wainwright (Avon, Ohio / St. Edward’s) helped lead Salem to a four game sweep of Notre Dame College. Wainwright knocked a total of 10 hits (including 7 home runs) on 18 total at bats. He scored 10 runs, and brought in a staggering 19 RBIs in the sweep of the Falcons. On the weekend, he had aa batting average of .556, an on-base percentage of .571, and a slugging percentage of 1.778.
Fitzpatrick (Monroe, Mich./Carlton Airport) was named GLIAC Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season and eighth time in his career on Monday. Fitzpatrick threw a seven-inning perfect game in Wayne State's 3-0 win over Purdue Northwest on Saturday. Not only did the Warrior ace retire 21 batters in a row, but did so with seven strikeouts and only 64 pitches while just 75 minutes of real time elapsed. WSU's all-time wins leader (31-8 career record) improved to 8-2 on the season with that effort.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
- Atlantic: Mackenzie Wainwright, Salem (Hitter); Mark Edeburn, Indiana (Pa.) (Pitcher)
- Central: Bennett McCollow, Concordia-St. Paul (Hitter); J.D. Hennen, Augustana (Pitcher)
- East: Steven Rizzuto, Bentley (Hitter); Mike Caldon, Felician (Pitcher)
- Midwest: Ryan Dykstra, Grand Valley State (Hitter), Karter Fitzpatrick, Wayne State (Mich.) (Pitcher)
- South: EJ Cumbo, Tampa (Hitter); Alex Canney, Tampa (Pitcher)
- South Central: Kolby Felix, Colorado Mesa (Hitter); Ayden Alger, Lubbock Chrstian (Pitcher)
- Southeast: Caron Boles, Lincoln Memorial (Hitter); Eli Edds, Lincoln Memorial (Pitcher)
- West: Justin Johnson, San Francisco State (Hitter); Kyle Ethridge, 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.
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)
May 1; Troy Shields, Oklahoma Baptist (Hitter, Central); John Dhima, Shepherd (Pitcher, Atlantic)
May 8; Mackenzie Wainwright, Salem (Hitter, Atlantic); Karter Fitzpatrick, Wayne State (Mich.) (Pitcher, Midwest)