DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the period ending April 18th. Emporia State's senior shortstop Dillon Hazlett is the National Hitter of the Week while UMass Lowell's sophomore lefthander Vinny DePierro is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Dillon Hazlett (Topeka, Kan.) hit .591 with one home run and 15 RBI as well as scoring seven runs and stealing 10 bases. He had six doubles on the week as he had a slugging percentage of 1.000 and is also in the midst of a 25-game hitting streak. The hitting streak is the second longest by a Hornet player since they joined the MIAA.

Vinny DePierro (Tewksbury, Mass.) tossed the fifth no-hitter in UMass Lowell history in a 10-0 win over St. Michael's last Tuesday. The lefthander allowed no hits or walks while striking out eight batters (one shy of his career-high). The only two base runners he allowed on the day reached on an error and a hit-by-pitch.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Adam Jury, Slippery Rock (Hitter); Jeremy Gigliotti, East Stroudsburg (Pitcher)
• Central: Bryan Lippincott, Concordia-St. Paul (Hitter); Charlie Henderson, Regis (Pitcher)
• East: Nick LaCroix, Franklin Pierce (Hitter); Vinny DePierro, UMass Lowell (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Steve Anderson, Grand Valley State (Hitter); Andy Heston, Northern Kentucky (Pitcher)
• South: Brandon Gipson, Benedict (Hitter); Jason Postill, West Florida (Pitcher)
• South Central: Dillon Hazlett, Emporia State (Hitter); Carl O'Neal, St. Mary's (Pitcher)
• West: Adrian Bringas, Chico State (Hitter); Guido Knudson, UC San Diego (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)