DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its weekly NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards of the season for the period ending April 14. Shepard junior outfielder Ryan Messina is the National Hitter of the Week while Texas A&M-Kingsville junior righthander Dallas Ponder is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Ryan Messina (St. James, N.Y.) guided the Rams to a 5-1 week. He posted a .545 batting average. Messina powered home 18 RBI and scored 11 runs. Nine of his 12 hits went for extra bases, including six round-trippers. Messina also had three doubles. On the season, Messina holds a .424 average with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 45 RBI.

Dallas Ponder (Flatonia, Texas) tied a pair of Kingsville school records on Friday when he pitched his third shutout of the season and third of his career versus West Texas A&M. Ponder threw nine innings of two-hit baseball for the 1-0 victory. His 12 strikeouts tied his career best set earlier this season against Fisher College. He now has the lowest ERA in school history when tossing 50 innings or more at 1.76 and also is the only Javelina to hold opposing hitters below .200 at the plate. He is limiting opposing hitters to .197.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Ryan Messina, Shepard (Hitter); Paul Hvozdovic, Shepard (Pitcher)
• Central: Mike Failoni, Lindenwood (Hitter); Adam Zwak, Minnesota Duluth (Pitcher)
• East: Mike Russo, St. Thomas Aquinas (Hitter); Ryan Davis, LeMoyne (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Michael Schroeder, Lewis (Hitter); Ben Wright, Southern Indiana (Pitcher)
• South: Dillon Vitale, St. Leo (Hitter); Cade Medley, North Alabama (Pitcher)
• South Central: John Shoutta, Regis (Hitter); Dallas Ponder, Texas A&M-Kingsville (Pitcher)
• Southeast: Heath Comerford, Tusculum (Hitter); Andrew Goot, Coker (Pitcher)
• West: Kevin Kline, Dixie State (Hitter); Spenser Watkins, Western Oregon (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.

2013 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
• Feb. 10: Lee Neumann, Angelo State (Hitter); Nick Fogarty, Valdosta State (Pitcher)
• Feb. 17: Josh Wenger, Concord (Hitter); Ryan Goodbrand, UC San Diego (Pitcher)
• Feb. 24: Connor McCain, Alabama-Huntsville (Hitter); Chris Murphy, Millersville (Pitcher)
• March 3: Dylan Tice, Indiana, Pa. (Hitter); Junior Mendez, Southern New Hampshire (Pitcher)
• March 10: Gioncarlo Brugnoni, Grand Valley State (Hitter); Shane Trattles, Mary (Pitcher)
• March 17: Kyle Giusti, Abilene Christian (Hitter); Chris Murphy, Millersville (Pitcher)
• March 24: Charlie Sharrer, Cal State-East Bay (Hitter); Scott Lieser, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
• March 31: Colton Little, Colorado Mesa (Hitter); Dylan James, West Texas A&M (Pitcher)
• April 7: Nate Olinger, Colorado Mines (Hitter); Stephen Cooke, Indiana (Pa.) (Pitcher)
• April 14: Ryan Messina, Shepard (Hitter); Dallas Ponder, Texas A&M-Kingsville (Pitcher)
• April 21: Brady Capshaw, Southern Arkansas (Hitter); Robert Frank, St. Thomas Aquanis (Pitcher)
• April 28: Jacob Nelson, Metro State (Hitter); Collin Sherrod, St. Edward's (Pitcher)
• May 5: Zach Bricknell, Young Harris (Hitter); Brian Ernst, East Stroudsburg (Pitcher)