SALISBURY, N.C. – Belmont Abbey College outfielder Joe Whitaker was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Southeast Region Player of the Week, for Week Eight, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
Whitaker, a senior from Tampa, Fla., hit .526 with 10 hits, five runs scored and 12 runs batted in over a five-game stretch. He started with three hits, including two doubles and two runs scored in a 14-9 win over Lenoir-Rhyne. He then drove in two on one hit in an 11-8 win over Augusta. The senior closed the week with two hits in each of the three games against King. He laced home runs in games one and three and ripped a double in game two. Whitaker also drove in two runs in game one against King, four in game two and three in game three.
Whitaker advances to NCBWA National Player of the Week consideration, which is released on Thursday.
2026 NCBWA Southeast Region Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 3 - Ben Shepherd, USC Aiken
Feb. 10 - Evan Koehler, Georgia Southwestern State
Feb. 17 - Chad Harvey, Wingate
Feb. 24 - Kaleb Owens, Anderson
Mar. 3 - Keaton Prior, Georgia College
Mar. 10 - Evan Koehler, Georgia Southwestern State
Mar. 17 - Aydin Palmer, Francis Marion
Mar. 24 - Kolton Casson, Carson-Newman
2026 NCBWA Southeast Region Player of the Week
Feb. 3 - CJ Dean, North Greenville
Feb. 10 - Braeden Harrison, Anderson
Feb. 17 - George Gilson, Flagler
Feb. 24 - Seth Christmas, Lenoir-Rhyne
Mar. 3 - Brandon Crabtree, Catawba
Mar. 10 - Brody Yeomans, North Georgia
Mar. 17 -
Charlie Bussey III, Francis Marion
Mar. 24 - Joe Whitaker, Belmont Abbey