Monday, March 16, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Guests for episode 57 of GNAC Insider included Western Oregon third baseman Garret Harpole, Simon Fraser track & field coach Brit Townsend and Saint Martin's pitcher Sam Munger.

Harpole is in his senior year with the Wolves. The third baseman is among the best in the GNAC, ranking in the top five in the conference in runs scored, home runs and RBI’s. The Elmira, Ore., native has his team on the right track after getting off to a slow start. The Wolves are 13-14, and 9-2 in the conference, after beginning the season 2-11. WOU has won three straight series, most recently sweeping MSUB in a three-game series. Harpole hit .455 with two doubles, three RBI’s and four runs scored in the three games against the Yellowjackets. Harpole discussed his team's turnaround and what makes their infield one of the best in the nation.

Townsend has been coaching at Simon Fraser for over 20 years. Townsend recently came back from coaching the Clan at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships where five SFU student-athletes took home all-American honors, helping the team to a seventh-place finish. Lindsey Butterworth was the DII national champion in the women’s 800 while fellow senior Jennifer Johnson placed third in the 3,000. The two were also part of the women’s distance medley relay team that placed second. Travis Vugteveen became the Clan's first all-American at the eventl, which was held at Birmingham CrossPlex in Alabama Friday and Saturday. Townsend talked about her Clan runners and how they reached these milestones. 

Munger is in her fourth season pitching for the Saints softball team. Munger may be having her best season of her career, posting a 1.88 ERA and having won 10 games in 15 appearances while striking out a conference-high 57 batters. She also has a great bat, ranking second in the conference in hits, doubles, total bases and runs scored. The Everett, Wash., native has helped the Saints move into first-place in the conference standings after sweeping Western Washington in a two-game series last week. This week the Saints face the team with the second most overall wins, Central Washington, in Ellensburg. Munger discussed this matchup and whether she prefers batting or pitching.  

GNAC Insider airs live at 7 p.m. Pacific time every Tuesday and is produced by the conference office. All episodes become available as free podcasts via iTunes, and for archived listening via GNAC.TV.