Monday, March 7, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of players that helped Concordia to their first conference wins on the diamonds lead the list of GNAC Player of the Week selections.

Meghan Luebbert was named the conference Softball Player of the Week after she led the Cavaliers to its first GNAC wins as a Division II program. She went 5 for 8, including a 3 for 4 performance in the second game, as Concordia swept their Saturday doubleheader from Central Washington. In the process, Luebbert and the Cavaliers ended the Wildcats’ 10-game win streak.

Harrison McGhee was selected as the Baseball Pitcher of the Week after he threw a complete-game two-hitter in a 2-0 win in Saturday’s second game with Western Oregon, giving the Cavaliers its first GNAC baseball win. McGhee faced just batters above the minimum in the seven-inning game, did not walk anyone and struck out eight.

Lubbert and McGhee were joined by Philip Kennedy, who was named the Men’s Golf Player of the Week. Competing as an individual, Kennedy tied for ninth place out of 77 competitors at the TMC Spring Invite with a three-round score of 216. His score card included a round of 1-under-par 71 in the second round.

Central Washington’s Reid Martinez was selected as the Baseball Player of the Week after he led the Wildcats to taking three of four games from Montana State Billings to open their GNAC season. Martinez went 6 for 10 with eight RBI in three games. Seven of those RBI came in Saturday’s games while going 3 for 4 in the nightcap.

Western Washington’s Shearyna Labasan was tabbed as the Softball Pitcher of the Week after she went 2-0 and compiled a 1.11 earned run average in three appearances as the Vikings took three of four games from Northwest Nazarnee. Labasan allowed one hit and two walks with four strikeouts in an 8-0, five-inning win in Saturday’s nightcap. She returrned to the circle to allow two runs on four hits in a 6-2 complete-game victory in Sunday’s second game.

The Vikings and Saint Martin’s swept the first track awards of the outdoor season. Matt Lutz was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he won the steeplechase at the Puget Sound Invitational. His time of 9:15.15 is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier. Bethany Drake was named the Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after winning the javelin and automatically qualifying for the national meet with a mark of 164 feet, 7 inches. The 2014 NCAA Division II champion in the event, it was Drake’s first meet after missing the 2015 season due to injury.

The Saints’ Shannon Porter was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she broke her own school record in the 1,500 meters by three seconds at the Puget Sound Invitational, winning in a nationals provisional qualifying time of 4:32.30. Brian Chalkley picked up the Men’s Field Athlete of the Week honor after winning the javelin in a provisional qualifying mark of 200 feet, 5 inches.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 27
BASEBALL PLAYER
Reid Martinez (Central Washington, OF, 6-0, 188, Sr., Seattle, Wash. – Roosevelt): Martinez went 6 for 10 with eight RBI in three games as the Wildcats took three of four in their GNAC season-opening series with Montana State Billings. He finished with three RBI in the opening game on Saturday, two on a single in the third inning, and went 3 for 4 with four RBI in the nightcap. Also Nominated: Adam Eskil (Saint Martin’s), Adam Helmstadter (Northwest Nazarene), Kevin Toon (Montana State Billings).

BASEBALL PITCHER
Harrison McGhee (Concordia, P, 5-11, 205, Sr., Ramona, Calif. - Ramona): McGhee hurled a complete-game two-hitter on Saturday, giving the Cavaliers their first GNAC win, 2-0, in the nightcap against Western Oregon. In seven innings, McGhee did not walk anyone, struck out eight and faced just two batters above the minimum. Also Nominated: Justin Adams (Central Washington), Cody Cooper (Montana State Billings), Torin Dooley (Saint Martin’s), Colton Loomis (Northwest Nazarene).

SOFTBALL PLAYER
Meghan Luebbert (Concordia, OF, 5-4, Jr., Sandy, Ore. - Sandy): Luebbert went 5 for 8 in the Cavaliers’ doubleheader sweep at Central Washington, giving Concordia their first two GNAC victories. She went 2 for 4 in the opener and went 3 for 4 in the nightcap. Also Nominated: Nicole Ratel (Simon Fraser), Kylie Orr (Northwest Nazarene), Jordan Walley (Western Washington).

SOFTBALL PITCHER
Shearyna Labasan (Western Washington, P, 5-3, Fr., Mililani, Hawaii - Maryknoll): Labasan went 2-0 and compiled a 1.11 earned run average in three appearances as the Vikings won three of four games in their series with Northwest Nazarene. She allowed one hit and two walks and struck out four in an 8-0, five-inning win in Saturday’s nightcap and allowed two runs on four hits in the 6-2 complete game win in Sunday’s second game. Also Nominated: Brooke Bonsen (Northwest Nazarene), Mattie Boucher (Concordia), Alia Stachoski (Simon Fraser).

MEN’S TRACK
Matt Lutz (Western Washington, Sr., Bremerton, Wash. - Olympic): Lutz opened Western Washington’s outdoor season by winning the steeplechase at the Puget Sound Invitational with a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time of 9:15.15. He has the top time in Division II after the first week of outdoor competition. Also Nominated: Latrelle Swayne (Saint Martin’s).

MEN’S FIELD
Brian Chalkley (Saint Martin’s, Jr., Eugene, Ore. - Sheldon): Chalkley won the javelin by a 15-foot margin at the Puget Sound Invitational with a mark of 200 feet, 5 inches. He enters the week No. 4 on the Division II best list.

WOMEN’S TRACK
Shannon Porter (Saint Martin’s, Sr., Vancouver, Wash. – Treasure Valley CC): Porter broke her own school record in the 1,500 meters at the Puget Sound Invitational, winning the event in a time of 4:32.30, which was a three-second personal best. A provisional qualifying mark for the NCAA Championships, Porter has the second best time in Division II after one week of competition.

WOMEN’S FIELD
Bethany Drake (Western Washington, Sr., Sandy, Ore. - Sandy): After missing the 2015 campaign due to injury, Drake returned to competition by winning the javelin at the Puget Sound Invitational with a NCAA Championships automatic qualifying mark of 164 feet, 7 inches, The 2014 NCAA Division II champion in the event, Drake own the best mark in Division II after the first week. Also Nominated: Kirby Neale (Saint Martin’s).

MEN’S GOLF
Philip Kennedy (Concordia, So., Eagle, Idaho - Eagle): Competing as an individual, Kennedy tied for ninth place out of 77 competitors at the TMC Spring Invitational. Kennedy matched par for three rounds with a score of 216, which included a score of 1-under-par 71 in the second round.