Monday, February 4, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – With the softball season beginning at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas, a trio of All-Tournament Team selections lead the selections for GNAC Players of the Week.

Concordia senior Ali Steen was named the Softball Player of the Week after she led all GNAC players with a .667 batting average in three games. Steen went 6 for 9 with five runs, seven RBI and three home runs, opening the tournament by going 3 for 4 with two runs, two RBI and a home run in Friday’s opener with Cal State Dominguez Hills and going 2 for 3 with two runs and a three-run homer in Sunday’s victory over Mary.

Central Washington sophomore Lexie Strasser and Western Oregon freshman Maddie Mayer shared Softball Pitcher of the Week honors after both posted 2-0 records and earned All-Tournament Team nods. Strasser posted a 0.47 earned run average in her two wins, allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits while striking out seven in 15 innings. She allowed one unearned run on four hits with four strikeouts in Friday’s 3-1, eight-inning victory over Hawaii Hilo and then allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts in Sunday’s 6-1 win over Stanislaus State.

Mayer compiled a 1.62 earned run average in 13 innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits with nine strikeouts. She went extra innings in her collegiate debut, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits with five strikeouts in Friday’s 6-5, nine-inning win over Cal State Monterey Bay. She then threw four hitless innings of relief on Sunday to earn the win in Sunday’s 7-2 victory over No. 7 Chico State, allowing a walk while striking out four.

On the men’s diamond, Concordia junior infielder Damon Peters earned Baseball Player of the Week honors after he hit .500 in the Cavaliers’ split with No. 5 (NAIA) ranked Lewis-Clark State, going 6 for 12 with seven runs, three RBI, a double, two triples and a home run. He finished the weekend with a .667 on-base percentage and a 1.167 slugging percentage. Peters did his most damage on Saturday, going 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI in the 5-3 opening win and went 2 for 3 with three runs scored in the narrow 7-6 loss in the nightcap.

Saint Martin’s junior Tanner Inouye was named the Baseball Pitcher of the Week after he earned the win in Sunday’s 5-3 victory at Dixie State. He allowed three unearned runs on five hits and five walks and struck out five in 5.2 innings of work.

On the hardwood, Western Oregon sophomore Darius Lubom was selected as the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he scored 46 points and shot 64.2 percent from the field in a sweep of the Alaska schools. He scored 16 points on 7 of 11 from the field with eight assists in Thursday’s 94-78 win over Alaska and then led all scorers with 30 points on 11 of 17 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free throw line in Saturday’s 81-61 win over Alaska Anchorage.

Seawolves’ senior Hannah Wandersee earned her third Women’s Basketball Player of the Week of the season after finishing with 43 points and 10 rebounds and shot 54.8 percent from the field in a pair of road wins. She finished with 15 points in Thursday’s 74-55 win at Western Washington and then led all scorers with 28 points in Saturday’s 68-63 win at Simon Fraser, making 11 of 18 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free throw line.

Simon Fraser swept the track honors with a pair of solid performances at the Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invitational in Boston. Junior Addy Townsend was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she ran a lifetime best 4:44.81 in the mile. She placed fourth in the race and has the No. 2 time in Division II this season and on the GNAC All-Time List. Sophomore Aaron Ahl earned the Men’s Track Athlete of the Week award after he ran 4:06.92 in the mile, a time that ranks No. 4 in Division II this season and on the GNAC All-Time List.

Montana State Billings junior Isaiah Girard was named the Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he set the MSUB record in the high jump at the Jacksons/Nike Boise Invitational, finishing second with a clearance of 6 feet, 9 inches. The mark ties him for No. 18 in Division II this season and ties him for No. 7 on the GNAC All-Time List. Central Washington senior HarLee Ortega earned Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honors after she won the pentathlon at the Cougar Indoor with a score of 3,651 points. In the process, Ortega won three of the event’s five disciplines.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 23
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Darius Lubom (Western Oregon, G, 6-1, So., Kent, Wash. – Kentwood): Lubom led the Wolves to a weekend sweep with 46 points in the two games, shooting 64.2 percent from the field, 3 of 6 from three-point range and 7 of 8 from the free throw line to go with 10 assists. Lubom finished with 16 points in Thursday’s 94-78 win over Alaska, connecting on 7 of 12 from the field to go along with eight assists. He then led all scorers with 30 points in Saturday’s 81-61 win over Alaska Anchorage. He connected on 11 of 17 from the field and went 3 of 6 from the free throw line to go with two assists and two steals as the Wolves snapped the Seawolves’ five-game win streak. Also Nominated: Tymoryae Glover (Alaska), Tyler Brimhall (Alaska Anchorage), Jeryn Lucas (Central Washington), Cody Starr (Concordia), Melvin Newbern, Jr. (Montana State Billings), Jayden Bezzant (Northwest Nazarene), EJ Boyce (Saint Martin’s), Coleman Wooten (Seattle Pacific), Julian Roche (Simon Fraser), Trevor Jasinsky (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Hannah Wandersee (Alaska Anchorage, F/C, 6-2, Sr., Kodiak, Alaska – Kodiak): Wandersee led the Seawolves to two wins with 43 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 54.8 percent from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line. She opened with a 15-point performance in a 74-55 win at Western Washington on Thursday before leading all scorers with 28 points in Saturday’s 68-63 win at Simon Fraser, making 11 of 18 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free throw line to go with six rebounds. Also Nominated: Taylor Shaw (Central Washington), Erin Higbie (Concordia), Hannah Collins (Montana State Billings), Avery Albrecht (Northwest Nazarene), Claire Dings (Saint Martin’s), Sophie Swant (Simon Fraser), Tresai McCarver (Western Oregon).

MEN’S TRACK
Aaron Ahl (Simon Fraser, So., Calgary, Alta. – William Aberhart): Running amidst a Division I field at the Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invitational in Boston, Ahl ran the fourth-fastest time in Division II this season in the mile. Ahl was 12th in a time of 4:06.92, which is the fastest in the GNAC this season and No. 4 on the GNAC All-Time List. Also Nominated: Daniel Calderon (Central Washington), Logan Blake (Northwest Nazarene), Kyler Sager (Western Washington).

MEN’S FIELD
Isaiah Girard (Montana State Billings, Jr., Dillon, Mont. – Beaverhead County): Girard set the MSUB record in the high jump at the Jacksons/Nike Boise Indoor, placing second in the event with a clearance of 6 feet, 9 inches. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark is tied for No. 18 in Division II this year and lists Girard in a tie for seventh on the GNAC All-Time List. Also Nominated: Aidan Cain (Central Washington), Canyon Anderson (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Addy Townsend (Simon Fraser, Jr., Coquitlam, B.C.): Townsend turned in a lifetime best in the mile at the Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invitational, running 4:44.81 to finish fourth in the Division I laden field. The time moves her up to No. 2 in Division II this season and just missed the NCAA Championships automatic qualifying mark of 4:44.72. The performance also ranks No. 2 on the GNAC All-Time List. Townsend also the third leg of the Clan’s 4x400-meter relay team that finished fifth in 3:48.38. Also Nominated: Sidney Trinidad (Central Washington), Lexi Tubbs (Northwest Nazarene), Kate Lilly (Seattle Pacific).

WOMEN’S FIELD
HarLee Ortega (Central Washington, Sr., Payette, Idaho – Payette): Ortega was the winner in the pentathlon at the Cougar Indoor, finishing with a score of 3,651 points. She placed just 31 points ahead of Washington State’s Lindsey Schauble to claim first multi-event win of the season. Ortega finished in the top-four in all five events, winning the high jump (5-3.75), shot put (36-3) and long jump (17-11.75).

BASEBALL PLAYER
Damon Peters (Concordia, IF, 5-11, Jr., Cornelius, Ore. – Linn Benton CC): Peters hit .500 in four games, going 6 for 12 with seven runs, three RBI, a double, two triples, a home run, a .667 on-base percentage and a 1.167 slugging percentage to lead Concordia to a split at No. 5 (NAIA) ranked Lewis-Clark State. Peters went 1 for 2 with two walks in Friday’s nightcap. He opened Saturday by going 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs in the 5-3 win, finishing a single short of the cycle. Peters closed the weekend by going 2 for 3 with three runs scored in the narrow 7-6 nightcap loss. Also Nominated: Colton Peha (Saint Martin’s).

BASEBALL PITCHER
Tanner Inouye (Saint Martin’s, RHP, 6-0, Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii – Moanalua): Inouye earned the Saints’ first win of the season in Sunday’s 5-3 win at Dixie State. He allowed three unearned runs on five hits and five walks, striking out five in 5.2 innings of work with three strikeouts. He allowed just one extra-base hit in the win. Also Nominated: Dylan Diaz (Concordia).

SOFTBALL PLAYER
Ali Steen (Concordia, UT, 6-2, Sr., Edmonds, Wash. – Wenatchee Valley CC): Steen was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team after leading all GNAC players in the tournament with a .667 batting average. She went 6 for 9 in three games with five runs, seven RBI and three home runs. Steen went 3 for 4 with two runs, two RBI and a solo home run in Friday’s opener with Cal State Dominguez Hills before going 1 for 2 with a homer and two RBI against UC San Diego. Steen finished the weekend by going 2 for 3 with two runs and a three-run homer in Sunday’s 13-12 win over Mary. Also Nominated: Theresa Moyle (Central Washington), Payton Reynolds (Montana State Billings), Brittany Genuardi (Northwest Nazarene), Sabrina Hicks (Saint Martin’s), Tyler Creach (Western Oregon).

SOFTBALL PITCHER
Lexi Strasser(Central Washington, RHP, 6-2, So., Chehalis, Wash. – W.F. West): Strasser went 2-0 in a pair complete-game victories with a 0.47 earned run average. In 15 innings, she allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight. Strasser pitched into extra innings in Friday’s 3-1, eight-inning win over Hawaii Hilo, allowing one unearned run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. She closed the week by allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts in Sunday’s 6-1 win over Stanislaus State.

Maddie Mayer (Western Oregon, LHP, 5-8, Fr., Portland, Ore. – Rex Putnam): Mayer earned two wins to help lead the Wolves to a 3-0 record at the Desert Stinger. In 13 innings, she allowed five runs, three earned, on three hits with nine strikeouts. She opened her career with a complete-game 6-5, nine-inning win over Cal State Monterey Bay, allowing five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. She then entered in relief in fourth inning against No. 7 Chico State on Sunday and proceeded to throw four hitless innings with a walk and four strikeouts to earn the victory as the Wolves won 7-2. Mayer was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team. Also Nominated: Maddy Lincoln (Montana State Billings), Maia McNicoll (Northwest Nazarene), Brandi Schoessler (Saint Martin’s).