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 week ending on March 30. Lander junior infielder Giancarlo Saia is the National Hitter of the Week while Notre Dame (Ohio) senior right-hander Matt Kastelic is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Saia (Mentor, Ohio) led the Lakers to a series sweep of crosstown-rival Gannon University by posting a .643 batting average (9-for-14) with 13 RBI in the four games last week. Saia entered the week with 10 RBI in his first 15 games. He went 3-for-5 in Thursday's doubleheader sweep and then had a day to remember on Friday, going 6-for-9 with two doubles, one home run, and 12 RBI in the Lakers' second consecutive sweep of Gannon in as many days. On Friday, Saia went 2-for-4 with seven RBI, including a grand slam home run, in game one. He followed that up with a 4-for-5 performance in game two, posting two doubles and five RBI. He led the Lakers during the week in batting average (.643), hits (9), doubles (2), home runs (1), RBI (13), total bases (14), and slugging percentage (1.000). He is the second member of the Lakers to earn an NCBWA National Player of the Week award in the past two weeks, as junior righty Dan Altavilla was named the National Pitcher of the Week on March 26.

Kastelic (Brunswick, Ohio) threw the first no-hitter in Notre Dame (Ohio) history in a 5-0 win over Charleston last week. He struck out nine and walked one, facing 22 batters - one over the minimum. He retired the first 12 batters he faced before issuing a walk on a full count, then retired the final nine batters he faced. It was the first no-hitter in Mountain East Conference history, with the league beginning play this season.  

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Giancarlo Saia, Mercyhurst (Hitter); Matt Kastelic, Notre Dame (Ohio) (Pitcher)
• Central: Bronson Gillam, Arkansas-Monticello (Hitter); Kyle Fischer, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
• East: Frank Crinella, Merrimack (Hitter); Cole Tobin, Nyack (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Phillip Landwehr, Missouri-St.Louis (Hitter); Mario Samuel, Wisconsin-Parkside (Pitcher)
• South: Cole Stancil, St. Leo (Hitter); Mitchel Buerosse, Nova Southeastern (Pitcher)
• South Central: Austin Kaiser, Colorado Mesa (Hitter); Zak Mickens, Newman (Pitcher)
• Southeast: Ty Barkell, USC Aiken (Hitter); Jordan DeLoatch, UNC Pembroke (Pitcher)
• West: Cody Doyle, Cal. St.-Los Angeles (Hitter); Joshua Garcia, Hawai'i Pacific (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)