DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the week ending February 15, 2026. Angelo State senior second baseman Austin Beck is the National Hitter of the Week and Emporia State sophomore hurler Colby
Deaver is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Beck (Allen, Texas / Allen HS) hit .625 (10-for-16) with four doubles, one home run and 10 RBI to power a four-game road sweep of Sul Ross State. He also
scored 12 runs, walked twice, was hit by two pitches and stole seven bases while playing errorless defense. Beck recorded three games with at least two
hits, an extra-base hit and a stolen base, swiping three bags in both Game 1 and Game 2. He currently leads the Lone Star Conference with eight doubles
and is tied for the league lead in RBI (19) and stolen bases (seven).
Deaver (Blue Springs, Mo. / Missouri Western) started Game 2 of the Hornets’ three-game weekend series and continued his scoreless start to the season.
The sophomore tossed 6.0 shutout innings, striking out 10 while allowing just three hits and one walk in Emporia’s 6-3 win over Sioux Falls. Deaver has now
thrown 18.0 consecutive scoreless innings to open the season, recording 26 strikeouts while surrendering only six hits and one walk. His 10 strikeouts on
Saturday marked the most by a Hornet pitcher since 2023.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
- Atlantic: Evan Shoffler, Shippensburg (Hitter); Sebastian Khan, Wheeling (Pitcher)
- Central: JJ Bush, Southeastern Oklahoma (Hitter); Colby Deaver, Emporia State (Pitcher)
- East: Inactive (Hitter); Inactive (Pitcher)
- Midwest: Evan Morrison, Grand Valley State (Hitter); Collin Bradley, Grand Valley State (Pitcher)
- South: Jhoander Irigoyen, Tampa (Hitter); Zach Wyatt, Montevallo (Pitcher)
- South Central: Austin Beck, Angelo State (Hitter); David Dean, Texas Dallas (Pitcher)
- Southeast: George Gilson, Flagler (Hitter); Chad Harvey, Wingate (Pitcher)
- West: Dom Dominguez, Cal State San Bernardino (Hitter); Vaughn Neckar, Point Loma (Pitcher)
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2026 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week
Feb. 5: Derek Woolwine, Fort Hays State (Hitter); Ben Shepherd, USC Aiken (Pitcher)
Feb. 12: Braeden Harrison, Anderson (Hitter); Cole Evans, Missouri Western (Pitcher)
Feb. 19: Austin Beck, Angelo State (Hitter); Colby Deaver, Emporia State (Pitcher)