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 9, 2021. Angelo State junior infielder Aaron Walters is the National Hitter of the Week and Colorado Mesa sophomore hurler Andrew Morris is the National Pitcher of the Week.

Walters (Center Point, Texas / Center Point HS) led Angelo State to a 2-1 series win in the opening round of the 2021 Lone Star Conference Baseball Championship racking up an incredible .727 batting average while slugging 1.636 with three home runs. Walters brought in nine RBI including five in the decisive game three that sent the Rams through to the second week of the conference tournament. He also scored five runs of his own and reached base at a .714 clip.

Morris (Bolder, Colo. / Monarch HS) was excellent in his final start of the regular season. He allowed one run (unearned) on five hits, walked no one and struck out 13 to earn his eighth win of the season. He limited the Colorado Christian to a .179 batting average in the game and retired the first nine batters in a row with seven coming by way of strikeouts. He is 8-0 this season and leads the RMAC in both ERA (2.10) and strikeouts (101).

Division II Regional Players of the Week:
• Atlantic: Matthew Kline, West Virginia State (Hitter); Ethan Lauchart, West Virginia State (Pitcher)
• Central: No nominees
• East: Shane Hewlette, Dominican College (Hitter); Nicolas Luc, Adelphi (Pitcher)
• Midwest: Travis Harvey, Davenport (Hitter); Derek Clark, Northwood (Pitcher)
• South: No nominees
• South Central: Aaron Walters, Angelo State (Hitter); Andrew Morris, Colorado Mesa (Pitcher)
• Southeast: Steven Minter, Columbus State (Hitter); Devin Dudal, Columbus State (Pitcher)
• West: Cooper Moore, Concordia Irvine (Hitter); Evan Larsen, Concordia Irvine (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)