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 May 4. Drury redshirt sophomore first baseman Payton Reed is the National Hitter of the Week while Mercyhurst senior righty Dan Altavilla is the National Pitcher of the Week.

For the week, Reed (Springfield, Mo.) hit .733 and had seven hits in his 10 at bats with a 1.600 slugging percentage and a .733 on base percentage. Payton homered three times, drove home 10 RBIs, scored seven runs and was walked four times. In Saturday’s opener, Reed was 3-for-3, blasted a pair of homers and had three hits, three RBIs, scored three runs and was walked once. Payton followed that game up with his third homer of the day in the nightcap for two RBIs and was walked twice in his one at bat. His slugging percentage for the day was 3.250 and his on base percentage Saturday was .875. In Sunday’s opener Reed had two hits, three RBIs and scored a run in his two at bats and was walked once. In the Panthers nightcap Reed had one hit, two RBIs and scored a run in his four at bats.

Altavilla (Greenock, Pa.) broke a 99-year-old PSAC record by striking out 19 batters in one game in the Lakers' opening round win over West Chester in the PSAC tournament. The righty went 7.2 innings and allowed just 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 19 - breaking the previous conference record of 18 established by Clyde Mellinger of Shippensburg against Kutztown in 1915. His 19 strikeouts was a career-high, a program-record, and was two shy of the NCAA Division II record, reached five times. With one out in the third until his removal with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Altavilla struck out 14 of a possible 15 outs, including 12 consecutive outs via strikeout. He has not allowed a run in his last 21.2 innings and now has a Mercyhurst single-season record with 107 strikeouts this season. He was named PSAC West Pitcher of the Year last week. This is his second NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week award of the 2014 season after also earning the award on March 26.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Atlantic: Joey Miller, Concord (Hitter); Dan Altavilla, Mercyhurst (Pitcher)
• Central: Jordon Konz, Southwest Minnesota State (Hitter); John Roberts, Wayne State (Neb.) (Pitcher)
• East: Nate Reynolds, Le Moyne (Hitter); Don Crook, Post (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Payton Reed, Drury (Hitter); Sean Clancy, Grand Valley State (Pitcher)
• South: No nominations
• South Central: Mario Sanchez, CSU-Pueblo (Hitter); Brannon Easterling, St. Edward’s (Texas) (Pitcher)
• Southeast: Thomas Spitz, Wingate (Hitter); Ethan Bader, Armstrong Atlantic (Pitcher)
• West: Tyler Blair, Dixie State (Hitter); Trevor Oaks, Cal Baptist (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)