DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the period ending March 13. Indianapolis junior shortstop Kaleb Cunningham is the National Hitter of the Week while Barry junior right-hander Manny Rodriguez is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Cunningham (Knaps Station, N.Y.) led Indianapolis to a 4-0 record last week, thanks to a gaudy 12-for-16 performance at the plate. The Greyhound shortstop racked up team highs in batting average (.750), on-base percentage (.778) and runs scored (7). He recorded at least two hits in every game, including a 5-for-5, four-run, five-RBI performance versus in-region Hillsdale, Saturday. He also had three doubles and four stolen bases on the week.

Rodriguez (West Palm Beach, Fla.) was dominant in a 2-0 win over No. 16 Florida Tech. Working all nine innings, the junior allowed just two hits and two walks. He set a new Barry single-game record with 16 strikeouts in the complete-game shutout. The Buccaneer pitcher started off by hitting the first two batters of the game before striking out seven of the next eight. He took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. With a 2.93 ERA on the season, Rodriguez has struck out 55 batters in 43 innings pitched.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Central: Zach Krueger, Metro State (Hitter); Reid Lancaster, Wayne State, (Neb.) (Pitcher)
• East: Vincent Malzahn, St. Thomas Aquinas (Hitter); Mike Scudero, Adelphi (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Kaleb Cunningham, Indianapolis (Hitter); Tyler Choate, Southern Indiana (Pitcher)
• South: Luis Penate, Nova Southeastern (Hitter); Manny Rodriguez, Barry (Pitcher)
• South Central: Colin Elmore, St. Edward’s (Hitter); Don Lisi, Central Missouri (Pitcher)
• West: Travis Taijeron, Cal. Poly-Pomona (Hitter); Nick Rodarte, Cal. St.-Los Angeles (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.

2011 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
• Feb. 20: Tyler Migl, St. Mary's, Texas (Hitter); Trey Mitchell, North Alabama (Pitcher)
• Feb. 27: Wayne Hawkins, Arkansas-Monticello (Hitter); Dave Middendorf, Northern Kentucky (Pitcher)
• March 6: Drew Dwelly, Barry (Hitter); Gabriel Asakura, Cal State-Los Angeles (Pitcher)
• March 13: Kaleb Cunningham, Indianapolis (Hitter); Manny Rodriguez, Barry (Pitcher)
• March 20: Brandon Gipson, Benedict (Hitter); Mike Fuller, Colorado-Mines (Pitcher)
• March 27: Chase Larsson, Cameron (Hitter); Ryan Griffin, Alabama-Huntsville (Pitcher)
• April 4: Jenzen Torres, Cal Poly Pomona (Hitter); Joby Lapkowicz, Slippery Rock (Pitcher)
• April 11: Chase Larsson, Cameron (Hitter); Ben Hawkins, West Florida (Pitcher)
• April 18: Dillon Hazlett, Emporia State (Hitter); Vinny DePierro, UMass Lowell (Pitcher)
• April 25: Daniel Dillard, Western Oregon (Hitter); Zach Jeney, Slippery Rock (Pitcher)
• May 2: Josh Vining, Valdosta State (Hitter); Scott Lieser, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
• May 9: Clay Mohr, New Mexico Highlands (Hitter); Grady Wood, Western Oregon (Pitcher)