DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its weekly NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the period ending Feb. 19th. Dixie State catcher Joe Andrade is the National Hitter of the Week while Newman senior lefthander Brandon Droge is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Joe Andrade (Yuma, Ariz.) led the Red Storm to a 3-1 series win over Grand Canyon. The senior catcher had two home runs and a double in the series opener. He added another four hits in Saturday's opening game with four RBI. He also had the go-ahead hit in the finale, a two-out RBI single at GCU. Andrade currently leads Dixie State with 19 RBI in eight games.

Brandon Droge (Topeka, Kan.) allowed just four hits in his complete-game shutout of Oklahoma Panhandle State. He struck out 13 Aggie batters on his way to his second-straight victory on the mound. Droge has allowed only one run on seven hits, while striking out 20 batters in his last 17.1 innings of work. Newman has won five-straight games. This was the second-straight week he has been named South Central Region Pitcher of the Week.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: A.J. Robinson, California (PA) (Hitter); Nick Umberger, Shippensburg (Pitcher)
• Central: Brian Hansen, St. Cloud State (Hitter); Mike Fabrizio, Colorado State-Pueblo (Pitcher)
• South: Alex Alfonso, Florida Tech (Hitter); Rick Teasley, Saint Leo (Pitcher)
• South Central: Ashton McCoy, Emporia State (Hitter); Brandon Droge, Newman (Pitcher)
• West: Joe Andrade, Dixie State (Hitter); Aaron Appino, Cal. St.-Monterey Bay (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.

2012 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
• Feb. 5: Chris Miller, Cal Poly Pomona (Hitter); Rick Reyna, Angelo State (Pitcher)
• Feb. 12: Anthony Boza, Lynn (Hitter); Barry Meeks, West Alabama (Pitcher)
• Feb. 19: Joe Andrade, Dixie State (Hitter); Brandon Droge, Newman (Pitcher)
• Feb. 26: Nate Wilder, Arkansas Tech (Hitter); Carl O'Neal, St. Mary's (Pitcher)
• March 4: Tommy Barnes, Nebraska-Kearney (Hitter); Nolan Snell, Colorado Mesa (Pitcher)
• March 11: Drew Miller, Southwest Baptist (Hitter); Dan McMahon, University of the Sciences (Pitcher)
• March 18: Heath Peterson, Montevallo (Hitter); Chris Zbin, Southern Connecticut State (Pitcher)
• March 25: Areo Regoli, Nova Southeastern (Hitter); Tim Flight, Southern New Hampshire (Pitcher)
• April 1: Tucker Brown, Central Oklahoma (Hitter); Mark Royer, Millersville (Pitcher)
• April 8: James Roche, Franklin Pierce (Hitter); Derek Hansen, Augustana (Pitcher)
• April 15: Giancarlo Brugnoni, Grand Valley State (Hitter); Colton Mitchell, Delta State (Pitcher)
• April 22: Scott Zuback, Lock Haven (Hitter); Jaden Dillon, Texas A&M-Kingsville (Pitcher)
• April 29: Alex Schrupp, Metro State (Hitter); Logan Birr, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
• May 6: Adam Shank, St. Edward's (Hitter); Thomas Lee, Sonoma State (Pitcher)