DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending on March 8. University of Tampa senior third baseman/catcher J.D. Osbourne is the National Hitter of the Week, while Point Loma Nazarene junior pitcher Trevor Abshire is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Osbourne (Whitby, Ontario, Canada/Polk State College), named Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week for a second time this season after leading Tampa to a series win over RV Flagler. Osborne recorded a .818 BA / .786 OB% / 1.909 Slugging slash line against the Saints. He went 9-11 at the plate and tallied 10 RBI, six runs, three home runs, three doubles, and two walks. Osbourne's top game was the last in the series, where he went 5-for-5 at the plate with five RBI, two runs scored, a double, and a homerun. With the play of Osborne, Tampa improves to 11-4 overall.

Abshire (Indio, Calif./La Quinta HS) highlighted a remarkable performance by the Point Loma pitching staff in a four-game sweep of visiting Hawai’i Pacific. He threw a nine-inning complete game shutout in the third game of the series Monday, allowing two hits, one walk, one hit-by-pitch, and striking out a season-high eight. Abshire retired the first 14 Sharks in order and didn’t allow a runner to reach second base until the ninth inning, on a passed ball. In the four-game series, the Point Loma pitchers allowed three runs and struck out 29.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Ian Allen, East Stroudsburg (Hitter); Alex Pantuso, Slippery Rock (Pitcher)
• Central: Carter Schmidt, Concordia-St. Paul (Hitter); Dalton Algiene, Southern Arkansas (Pitcher)
• East: Jake Byrne, Assumption (Hitter); Nick Morena, Queens (N.Y.) (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Steven Ring, Hillsdale (Hitter); Luke Fraley, Tiffin (Pitcher)
• South: J.D. Osbourne, Tampa (Hitter); Hunter Jones, Valdosta State (Pitcher)
• South Central: Jake Baxter, Oklahoma Christian (Hitter); Dalton Rentz, Oklahoma Christian (Pitcher)
• Southeast: Bradley Brown, Wingate (Hitter); Thomas St. Clair, Lenoir-Rhyne (Pitcher)
• West: Logan Porter, Dixie State (Hitter); Trevor Abshire, Point Loma (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.

2017 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
• Week ending Feb. 22: J.D. Osbourne, Tampa (Hitter); Donovan Armas, Lynn (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 1: Jake Walters, Quincy (Hitter); Thomas St. Clair, Lenoir-Rhyne (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 8: J.D. Osbourne, Tampa (Hitter); Trevor Abshire, Point Loma Nazarene (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 15: Adrian Tovalin, Azusa Pacific (Hitter); Joshua Payne, West Texas A&M (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 22: Andrew Webster, Barton (Hitter); Gus Varland, Concordia-St. Paul (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 29: Ryan Rogers, Lubbock Christian (Hitter); Garett King, California Baptist (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 4: Tyler Walters, Slippery Rock (Hitter); Steven Bower, North Georgia (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 11: Justin Graff-Rowe, Central Missouri (Hitter); Will Myers, Alabama-Huntsville (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 18: Cole Brooks, Saginaw Valley State (Hitter); Jason Blank, Augustana (S.D.) (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 25: Brian Parreira, USC Aiken (Hitter); John Holland, Felician (Pitcher)
• Week ending May 2: Blaine Crim, Mississippi College (Hitter); Parker Dyson, West Liberty (Pitcher)
• Week ending May 9: Chris Devery, Colorado State-Pueblo (Hitter); Sean Horner, Palm Beach Atlantic (Pitcher)