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 April 20. Augustana senior infielder Tony Viger is the National Hitter of the Week while Bentley senior southpaw Ryan O'Connor is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Tony Viger (Sioux Falls, S.D.) Viger played a key role in the Vikings' 6-0 week against NSIC competition. On Tuesday, he recorded six hits in nine at bats, including a tying a career-high with four hits in game two of a doubleheader against Upper Iowa. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native also had four RBI in the two-game series and scored three runs. Viger continued his offensive outburst in the Southwest Minnesota State series over the weekend, getting nine hits in 16 appearances at the plate. The former O'Gorman High School standout crushed three homeruns in the series and drove in eight runs and had nine runs scored. Five of Viger's nine hits in the series were extra-base hits (three home runs, two doubles). For the week, the senior third baseman numbers were something to see: .600 batting average (15-for-25), 12 runs scored, three doubles, one triple, three homeruns, 12 RBI, a 1.160 slugging percentage, and a .667 on-base percentage for a 1.827 OPS.

Ryan O'Connor (Newburyport, Mass.) O'Connor pitched Bentley's first no-hitter in 42 years with a 5-0 victory over Saint Anselm for his third shutout in five starts. After walking the first two hitters, he retired 26 of the final 27, with the only base runner during that span retired on a double play. O'Connor walked three and struck out five in the 107-pitch masterpiece.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Ryan Messina, Shepherd (Hitter); Jack Dennis, California (Pa.) (Pitcher)
• Central: Tony Viger, Augustana (Hitter); Timothy Buchanan, Southern Arkansas (Pitcher)
• East: Nick D'Angelo, St. Thomas Aquinas (Hitter); Ryan O'Connor, Bentley (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Nick Thimesch, Drury (Hitter); Trevor Richards, Drury (Pitcher)
• South: Mitch Holgate, West Alabama (Hitter); Brandon Terry, St. Leo (Pitcher)
• South Central: Derek Garcia, Colorado Mesa (Hitter); Josh Weyker, West Texas A&M (Pitcher)
• Southeast: R.J. Dennard, Armstrong Atlantic (Hitter); Taylor Alvarez, Lander (Pitcher)
• West: Chandler Tracy, St. Martin's (Hitter); Ruben Rios, Cal. St.-San Bernardino (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)