May 5, 2021
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kit Strief
229-333-5903
Western Oregon's Arcano, Augustana's Jares honored
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NCBWA NAMES DIVISION II NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending on May 2, 2021. Western Oregon senior outfielder Blayze Arcano is the National Hitter of the Week and Augustana (S.D.) sophomore righty Ryan Jares is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Arcano (Ewa Beach, Hawaii/Lower Columbia) earned Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week after hitting .550 in a four-game sweep of Montana State Billings. In the series, he went a blistering 11 for 21 with five home runs, 21 RBI, two triples and 10 runs with a .571 on-base percentage and a 1.500 slugging percentage. Arcano tied GNAC single-game records with nine RBI and five runs scored in the Wolves' 28-13 opening-game win Friday. In that game, Arcano had three of the Wolves' GNAC-record eight home runs.

Jares (Windsor, Colo./Windsor) Tossed a complete game nine-inning shutout against No. 11 Minnesota State, allowing just four hits and fanned 14 in 128 pitches against the top team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. He now is 4-1 on the year with a 1.94 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 46.1 innings of work.

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Brock Kauffman, East Stroudsburg (Hitter); Tyler Blomquist, West Liberty (Pitcher)
• Central: Christian Roduner, Emporia State (Hitter); Ryan Jares, Augustana (S.D.) (Pitcher)
• East: Garrett Musey, Goldey-Beacom College (Hitter); Alex Mack, St. Thomas Aquinas College (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Chris Monroe, Illinois-Springfield (Hitter); Nick Torres, Missouri-St. Louis (Pitcher)
• South: Zach Scott, Florida Southern College (Hitter); Hunter Riggins, Delta State (Pitcher)
• South Central: Cade Engle, West Texas A&M (Hitter); Logan Soole, MSU Denver (Pitcher)
• Southeast: John Michael Faile, North Greenville (Hitter); Chad Brown, Young Harris College (Pitcher)
• West: Blayze Arcano, Western Oregon (Hitter); Collin Carriger, Academy of Art (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.

2021 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Week ending Feb. 14: Brady Eeles, North Georgia (Hitter); Parker Morrison, North Georgia (Pitcher)
Week ending Feb. 21: Tucker Greer, Young Harris (Hitter); Andrew Patrick, Lenoir-Rhyne (Pitcher)
Week ending Feb. 28: Ethan Baucom, UNC Pembroke (Hitter); Taylor Boisclair, Shorter (Pitcher)
Week ending March 7: Haydn McGeary, Colorado Mesa (Hitter); Dylan Heid, Pitt-Johnstown (Pitcher)
Week ending March 14: Connor Hamilton, Slippery Rock (Hitter); Tucker Smith, Georgia Southwestern (Pitcher)
Week ending March 21: Ben Werkheiser, Shippensburg (Hitter); Logan Workman, Lee (Pitcher)
Week ending March 28: Jonathan Martin, Georgia Southwestern (Hitter); Cade Crader, MSU Denver (Pitcher)
Week ending April 4: Dusty Stroup, Central Missouri (Hitter); Austin DeRosa, Mercy (Pitcher)
Week ending April 11: Kory Carter, Truman State (Hitter); Jonathan Draheim, Mary (Pitcher)
Week ending April 18: Chris Iazzetta, Wheeling (Hitter); Joe Vail, Le Moyne (Pitcher)
Week ending April 25: Nikko Calabro, Drury (Hitter); Chad Saner, Illinois-Springfield (Pitcher)
Week ending May 2: Blayze Arcano, Western Oregon (Hitter); Ryan Jares, Augustana, S.D. (Pitcher)
Week ending May 9: Tommy Pellis, Seton Hill (Hitter); Riley Martin, Quincy (Pitcher)
Week ending May 16: Aaron Walters, Angelo State (Hitter); Andrew Morris, Colorado Mesa (Pitcher)