Monday, March 17, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. -  Nine athletes including two each from Saint Martin's, Alaska Anchorage and Central Washington and one each from Montana State Billings, Western Oregon and Western Washington, have been selected Great Northwest Athletic Conference Red Lion Players of the Week.

Among the honorees are softball pitchers Kelli Demianew of WOU and WWU's Jenna DeRosier, who both tossed seven shutout innings in leading their teams to victories last weekend.

Softball

Player – Sam Munger, Saint Martin’s (SS-P, 5-6, Jr., Everett, WA - Cascade) had 11 hits in 24 at bats as the Saints split eight games. Among her 11 hits were three doubles and a triple.  She also drove in seven runs.  In the circle, she posted a 3-2 record and a 1.97 ERA.  One of her losses was a two-hit 1-0 decision to Western Washington. 

Pitcher – Kelli Demianew, Western Oregon (5-10, Jr., Pendleton, OR – Blue Mountain CC) and Jenna DeRosier, Western Washington (5-7, Sr., Kelso, WA) .... Neither Demianew nor DeRosier allowed a run.  Demianew picked up a pair of victories, including one in relief.  In seven innings she allowed seven hits, but didn’t walk a batter and struck out eight ... DeRosier scattered seven hits in blanking defending GNAC champion Saint Martin’s 1-0.  She walked one and fanned three. 

Honorable Mention – Amanda Evola, Western Oregon (OF, Jr., Beaverton, OR); Samantha Jo Everett, MSU Billings (3B, 5-2, Sr., Roseville, CA – Southwestern Oregon).

Baseball

Player – Kevin Toon, Montana State Billings (DH, R/R, 6-2, So., Walla Walla, WA – Walla Walla CC), batted .615 (8-for-13) as the Yellowjackets split four games with Saint Martin’s.  He  scored six runs and also had four doubles, five RBI and a dozen total bases. Toon slugged .923 while drawing three walks, being hit by a pitch and striking out just once. His .706 on-base percentage (12-for-17) led the conference and was more than 100 points higher than the next closest player, and Toon was also successful in his only stolen base attempt of the weekend. On Saturday, he helped the ‘Jackets to an 8-5 win over Saint Martin’s by going 1-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored and also drawing two walks. His two-run double in the first inning got MSUB off to an early lead and kicked off what turned into an 8-0 lead by the fourth. Toon was even better in MSUB’s second win of the day, again getting the Yellowjackets on the board with a first-inning RBI base hit. Toon finished the final game of the series 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Pitcher – Josh Moss, Saint Martin’s (LHP, L/L, 6-1, Jr., Tenino, WA – Rochester) was instrumental in the Saints’ 3-2 victory over Montana State Billings Friday. He got the start in Game 2 of the series, pitching eight innings and allowing just two unearned runs on four hits. He also struck out seven batters against just two walks, but received a no-decision as the Saints scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth after he had exited. Moss retired the first six batters he faced, but two errors each in the third and sixth innings allowed MSUB to score its only runs and erased Moss’ chance to get the win.

Honorable Mention – Travis Shaw, Saint Martin’s (DH, R/R, 5-11, Jr., Mililani, HI – Saint Louis); Kyle Thomson, Northwest Nazarene (LF, L/R, 5-7, Jr., Enumclaw, WA – Yakima Valley, CC); Daniel McNabb, Western Oregon (RF, L/R, 5-11, Sr., Pasadena, CA – Chaffey JC); Aaron Vaughn, Northwest Nazarene (RHP, R/R, 5-11, Sr., Tucson, AZ – Pusch Ridge Christian Academy); Eric Huson, Western Oregon (RHP, R/R, 6-3, Jr., Forest Grove, OR – Mt. Hood CC).

Men’s Outdoor Track & Field

Track – Elliott Bauer, Alaska Anchorage (Jr., Anchorage, AK – South Anchorage) posted  a provisional national qualifying time in the 400 hurdles at the Ben Brown Invitational at Fullerton, Calif.  Bauer was clocked in a time of 53.61.  He also ran the lead leg as the Seawolves won the 4x400 relay at the Occidental Distance Relays in a GNAC record-time of 3:13.70.  Field – Troy Martin, Central Washington (Fr., Port Angeles, WA) finished second in the shot put (50-2 ½) and third in the discus (159-5) posting GNAC season-best marks in both events at the Dusty Lane Open in Spokane.  Both marks automatically qualify Martin for the GNAC meet in May.

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field

Track – Rosie Smith, Alaska Anchorage (So., Anchorage, AK - Bartlett) finished second in the 100 hurdles at the Occidental Distance Carnival Friday in a time of 14.52, then posted a provisional national qualifying time of 14.40 in finishing fifth in the same event at the Fullerton State Ben Brown Invitational Saturday.  Her 100 hurdles time ranks eighth in GNAC history.  She also was a member of UAA’s 4x100 relay team at Occidental than finished first in the third fastest time in GNAC history (47.11).  Field – Becki Duhamel, Central Washington (Sr., Wenatchee, WA) posted GNAC automatic qualifying marks in both the discus (131-3) and shot put (41-5 ¼) at the Dusty Lane Open. She finished fourth in both events.  Her marks rank  first and second, respectively, so far this spring in the GNAC.

Honorable Mention – Kody Rhodes, Western Oregon (Sr., Wilsonville, OR);  Rochelle Pappel, Western Oregon (So., Veneta, OR -  Churchill); Janessa Dyk, Northwest Nazarene (Fr., Portland, OR – David Douglas); Micah Spatz, Northwest Nazarene (Fr., Melba, ID).