DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its weekly NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending March 16. Mansfield senior second baseman/outfielder Seth Tressler is the National Hitter of the Week while Southwest Minnesota State righty Joe Axelson is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Tressler (Bellefonte, Pa.) led Mansfield to a perfect 4-0 week while batting .632 over the four-game span. He had at least two hits, a run, and an RBI in all four games, including a 4-5 effort at the dish with four RBIs and two runs against Hillsdale where he had a home run and a double. Tressler was 3-4 with three RBIs in wins against Ohio Valley and Hillsdale during the week as well. His bat has led Mansfield to a 9-2 overall record this season and eight straight wins and he is hitting .409 on the season in 39 at bats.

Axelson (Spring Lake Park, Minn.) tossed the eighth no-hitter in program history on March 12 in a 5-0 non-conference victory over Bemidji State in Tucson, Ariz. He struck out seven BSU batters and walked two in facing just two batters over the minimum during the seven-inning game. He is the first Mustang to throw a no-hitter since 2005. Axelson also picked up a save earlier in the week, securing SMSU’s 4-3 win over Northern State on March 10. He allowed one hit and struck out two NSU batters in the seventh inning to earn his first career save. 

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Seth Tressler, Mansfield (Hitter); Marcus Shippey, Shippensburg (Pitcher)
• Central: Eric Loxtercamp, St. Cloud State (Hitter); Joe Axelson, Southwest Minnesota State (Pitcher)
• East: Chris DeMorais, New Haven (Hitter); Dominic Raia III, Chestnut Hill (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Jarod Hahn, Truman State (Hitter); Brian Bayliss, Jr., St. Joseph’s (Pitcher)
• South: Kyle Conkle, North Alabama (Hitter); Clay Chapman, Florida Southern (Pitcher)
• South Central: Austin Kaiser, Colorado Mesa (Hitter); Scott Cone, West Texas A&M (Pitcher)
• Southeast: Paul Kronenfeld, Catawba (Hitter); Ben Currie, Wingate (Pitcher)
• West: Skippy Ferreria, Cal. St.-Stanislaus (Hitter); Chance Abrath, Dixie State (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.

2014 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
• Feb. 2: Nick Perez, St. Leo (Hitter); David Ward, Ouchita Baptist (Pitcher)
• Feb. 9: Jordan Edgerton, UNC Pembroke (Hitter); Daniel Barfield, Francis Marion (Pitcher)
• Feb. 16: Hunter Boose, GRU Augusta (Hitter); Jordan DeLorenzo, West Florida (Pitcher)
• Feb. 23: Andrew Brodbeck, Flagler (Hitter); Matt McClain, St. Mary's (Pitcher)
• March 2: Nick Kranick, Flagler (Hitter); Chris Murphy, Millersville (Pitcher)
• March 9: Josh Coker, Lincoln Memorial (Hitter); Brannon Easterling, St. Edward's (Pitcher)
• March 16: Seth Tressler, Mansfield (Hitter); Joe Axelson, Southwest Minnesota State (Pitcher)
• March 23: Colby Painter, Lander (Hitter); Dan Altavilla, Mercyhurst (Pitcher)
• March 30: Giancarlo Saia, Lander (Hitter); Matt Kastelic, Notre Dame (Ohio) (Pitcher)
• April 6: Will Kengor, Slippery Rock (Hitter); Jonathan Russell, Queens (Pitcher)
• April 13: Giancarlo Brugnoni, Grand Canyon (Hitter); Will Landsheft, Drury (Pitcher)
• April 20: Tony Viger, Augustana (Hitter); Ryan O'Connor, Bentley (Pitcher)
• April 27: Jordan Liester, Colorado Mesa (Hitter); Josh Eagle, Cal State Monterey Bay (Pitcher)
• May 4: Payton Reed, Drury (Hitter); Dan Altavilla, Mercyhurst (Pitcher)