Anderson's Harrison Takes Home NCBWA National Player 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 February 8, 2026. Anderson redshirt junior first baseman Braeden Harrison is the National Hitter of the Week and Missouri Western junior right-hander Cole Evans is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Harrison (Spartanburg, S.C. / Dorman HS) powered Anderson University to a 6-0 start by hitting an impressive .684 with a .759 on-base percentage and a 1.105 slugging percentage over six games. The redshirt junior outfielder finished the week 13-for-19 with two doubles and two home runs, scoring nine runs and driving in 17 RBI. He drew six walks, was hit by three pitches, and stole two bases while reaching base safely in all six contests. Harrison recorded four multi-hit performances, including three games with at least three hits, highlighted by a pair of five-RBI outings against King (Tenn.) and Davis & Elkins.
Evans (Lake St. Louis, Mo. / Cisco College) delivered a dominant complete-game performance for Missouri Western in a 7-0 victory over Concordia-St. Paul. The junior right-hander tossed nine scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out 11 and walking two on 102 pitches. Evans faced 27 batters in the outing and limited opponents to a .037 batting average for the week, earning the win in Missouri Western's home-opening series with one of the most efficient and commanding performances of the early season.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
- Atlantic: Edward Mateo, Wheeling (Hitter); Kaden Varela-Payne, Concord (Pitcher)
- Central: Landin Midgett, Pittsburg State (Hitter); Cole Evans, Missouri Western (Pitcher)
- East: Inactive (Hitter); Inactive (Pitcher)
- Midwest: Connor Bain, Drury (Hitter); Coleman Morrison, Drury (Pitcher)
- South: Ryan Crivello, St. Leo (Hitter); Robert Satin, Tampa (Pitcher)
- South Central: Ciro Benavides, Texas A&M-International (Hitter); Brayden McCullough, MSU Denver (Pitcher)
- Southeast: Braeden Harrison, Anderson (Hitter); Evan Koehler, Georgia Southwestern (Pitcher)
- West: James Starkus, Cal State Monterey Bay (Hitter); Dylan Esquival, Cal Poly Pomona (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.
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)