DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the period ending May 2nd. Valdosta State senior catcher Josh Vining is the National Hitter of the Week while St. Cloud State sophomore righthander Scott Lieser is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Vining (Swainsboro, Ga.) enjoyed a fantastic week as he batted .786 with a 1.286 slugging percentage. Opened the week with two hits in three at-bats while scoring a run in a 6-5 loss to Georgia Southwestern. He was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI in an 11-3 victory over Thomas. He then tallied a double and his first home run of the year in the game, then followed with a perfect 3-for-3 outing with his second home run in as many games in a 12-4 win of game two of a weekend series with West Georgia. Vining ended the weekend by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI in the series finale against West Georgia. In the three-game GSC series, he was 6-of-7 with three runs scored and four RBI. Vining raised his season batting average from .244 to .317 over the course of the four games.

Lieser (Browerville, Minn.) tossed a no-hitter as St. Cloud State handed Northern State a 10-0 loss Wednesday in Carlos, Minn. Lieser struck out 10 batters in seven innings of work to remain a perfect 6-0 on the season, while giving the SCSU a crucial NSIC win. Lieser walked just one batter and only four NSU batters reached base. He now has 33 strikeouts on the season in 40.2 innings of work, while walking just six batters.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Ernie Ruch, Mansfield (Hitter); Derek Kline, Millersville (Pitcher)
• Central: Derek Hansen, Augustana (S.D) (Hitter); Scott Leiser, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
• East: Cam Kneeland, Umass Lowell (Hitter); Dave Bartuska, Dominican (N.Y.) (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Cody Grice, Grand Valley State (Hitter); Chris Saroff, Indianapolis (Pitcher)
• South: Josh Vining, Valdosta State (Hitter); Josh Cagle, Stillman (Pitcher)
• South Central: Mike Williams, Newman (Hitter); Ricky Cramer, Cameron (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)