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 28, 2024. Oklahoma Baptist senior infielder Troy Shields, is the National Hitter of the Week and Shepherd junior John Dhima is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Shields (El Dorado Hills, Calif. / Catholic HS) smashed five home runs and drove in 13 as the Bison dominated Northeastern State and Southern Nazarene by an aggregate 56-11 margin. Against the RiverHawks, he clubbed three home runs and tallied a school-record nine RBI. In the series sweep of the Crimson Storm, he went 6-for-11 with two home runs, four RBI and six runs scored.
Dhima (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone HS) tossed a no-hitter in his first career start for the Rams. Dhima fanned five and walked only one in seven innings in an 8-0 win over West Liberty.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
- Atlantic: Luis Liriano, Glenville State (Hitter); John Dhima, Shepherd (Pitcher)
- Central: Troy Shields, Oklahoma Baptist (Hitter); Charles Peacock, Arkansas-Monticello (Pitcher)
- East: Jorge Burgos, Southern New Hampshire (Hitter); Vincent Civitella, Pace (Pitcher)
- Midwest: Hayden Jatczak, Saginaw Valley State (Hitter), Dylan Mollett, Missouri S&T (Pitcher)
- South: Carson Villalta, Alabama Huntsville (Hitter); Hunter Booth, Valdosta State (Pitcher)
- South Central: Maxim Fullerton, Regis (Hitter); Jadrian Martinez, New Mexico Highlands (Pitcher)
- Southeast: Joey Rezek, UNC Pembroke (Hitter); Alex Sniffen, Belmont Abby (Pitcher)
- West: Jack Sanders, Cal Poly Pomona (Hitter); Blake Hammond, Northwest Nazarene (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.
2024 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week
Feb. 7: Ryan Ball, Lubbock Christian (Hitter, South Central); Cole Gayman, Missouri Southern (Pitcher, Central)
Feb. 14: C.D. White, Northeastern State (Hitter, Central); Jonathan Zayas, Northwest Nazarene (Pitcher, West)]
Feb. 21: Karson Coffee, Pittsburg State (Hitter, Central); Hayden Jatczak, Saginaw Valley State (Pitcher, Midwest)
Feb. 28: Christian Casteneda, Colorado State-Pueblo (Hitter, South Central); Nick McCollum, Georgia Southwestern (Pitcher, Southeast)
March 7: JJ Engman, Cal State Monterey Bay (Hitter, West); Reece Fields, North Greenville, (Pitcher, Southeast)
March 14: Mason Andrews, Colorado School of Mines (Hitter, South Central); Caleb Saari, Augustana (S.D.) (Pitcher, Central)
March 21: Jacob Guerrero, Angelo State (Hitter, South Central); Griffin Kilander, Wayne State (Mich.) (Pitcher, Midwest)
March 28: EJ Cumbo, Tampa (Hitter, South); Peter Tveite, Winona State (Pitcher, Central)
Aprril 4: Isaac Nett, Southwest Minnesota State (Hitter, Central); Jake Covey, Concordia University Irvine (Pitcher, West)
April 11: Zach Schuler, MSU Denver (Hitter, South Central); Mike Morawski, Grand Valley State (Pitcher, Midwest)
April 18: Evan Hilbert, William Jewell (Hitter, Midwest); Maddox Long, Harding (Pitcher, Central)
April 25: Alex Epp, William Jewell (Hitter, Midwest); Rodney Schultz, Pitt-Johnstown (Pitcher, Atlantic)
May 1; Troy Shields, Oklahoma Baptist (Hitter, Central); John Dhima, Shepherd (Pitcher, Atlantic)