DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending on April 5. St. Cloud State senior first baseman Zach Hoffmann is the National Hitter of the Week, while Tusculum senior pitcher Placido Torres is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Hoffmann (New Ulm, Minn.) sparked SCSU to a four-game sweep at Southwest Minnesota State on April 3-4. In the four game set, Hoffmann batted .706 with 12 hits, seven runs scored, two doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and 23 total bases. He also had 17 putouts, one assist and no errors in the four games played at first base.

In SCSU's 21-0 win, he charted four hits, three runs, two doubles, one homer and four RBI. Hoffmann added three hits, two runs, one homer and two RBI in SCSU's 8-2 in over SMSU on April 4. He then capped the series in SCSU's 24-13 win on April 4 with four hits, four RBI, two runs and one homer. On the season, Hoffman is batting .420 with 34 hits, 22 runs, 28 RBI, eight doubles and four home runs for the number one nationally ranked Huskies.

Torres (North Brunswick, N.J.) recorded 15 strikeouts in a complete game one-hit win over Wingate on April 1. The contest saw him become Tusculum’s all-time leader in strikeouts with 225 for his career, while he also established the Tusculum single-season record with 115 strikeouts. The shutout also marked a Tusculum record as he has turned in three during the 2016 season and four in his career.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Eric Lane, Kutztown (Hitter); Matthew Minnick, Mercyhurst (Pitcher)
• Central: Zach Hoffmann, St. Cloud State (Hitter); Shae Edmonds, East Central (Pitcher)
• East: Jay Jabs, Franklin Pierce (Hitter); Perry Kulaga, Merrimack (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Ryan Snyder (Hitter); John Bolton, Trevecca Nazarene (Pitcher)
• South: Alex Mata, Saint Leo (Hitter); Wilson Adams, Alabama-Huntsville (Pitcher)
• South Central: Alvaro Gonzalez, New Mexico Highlands (Hitter); Preston Plovanich, Texas A&M-Kingsville (Pitcher)
• Southeast: Mitchell Price, South Carolina-Aiken (Hitter); Placido Torres, Tusculum (Pitcher)
• West: Sam Hall, Dixie State (Hitter); Mason Hilty, 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.

2016 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
• Week ending Feb. 16: Brett Wilhelm, Lubbock Christian (Hitter); Brooks Trujillo, West Texas A&M (Pitcher)
• Week ending Feb. 23: Andrew Vogelbaugh, Pittsburg State (Hitter); Guillaume Blanchette, Lubbock Christian (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 1: Blaise Warrick, Arkansas-Fort Smith (Hitter); Ben Criscuolo, Southern New Hampshire (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 8: Matt Piatt, Tampa (Hitter); Mark Delas, Findlay (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 15: Troy Sieber, St. Leo University (Hitter); Robbie Gordon, Maryville (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 22: Dylan Cook, Georgia College (Hitter); Logan Johnson, Fairmont State (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 29: Chance Bowden, Catawba (Hitter); Greg Stagani, West Liberty (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 5: Zach Hoffmann, St. Cloud State (Hitter); Placido Torres, Tusculum (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 12: Reese Gregory, St. Cloud State (Hitter); Tanner Herdt, Colorado Mesa (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 19: J.P Sorma, Ashland (Hitter); Mason Mayberry, Findlay (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 26: Alex Wojciechowski, Minnesota-Duluth (Hitter); Alex Kelley, Francis Marion (Pitcher)
• Week ending May 3: Aaron Krier, Wayne State (Hitter); Nikko Pablo, Northwest Missouri State (Pitcher)
• Week ending May 10: Cale Giddings, Lake Erie (Hitter); Colin Gossard, Findlay (Pitcher)