Monday, February 28, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – Montana State Billings pitcher Dylan Barkley is developing a reputation for being close to unhittable. He lived up to that reputation this week to lead the GNAC’s weekly awards.

The junior lefty was named the GNAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season after throwing eight scoreless innings in Friday’s 6-0 win at Colorado Christian. He retired the first 13 batters he faced and carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Barkley finished the day allowing one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts.

Northwest Nazarene senior infielder Parker Price picked up the Baseball Player of the Week award after he batted .467 as the Nighthawks split a four-game series at No. 2 Colorado Mesa. Price went 4 for 5 with three doubles and scored the winning run in Friday’s 9-8 victory in the series opener. He had hits in each of the final three games of the series and had two walks and a two-run double in Friday’s nightcap, a 4-0 victory.

Saint Martin’s sophomore infielder Malia Pinder earned her second Softball Player of the Week honor of the season after she batted .545 in a 2-1 week for the Saints. She went 2 for 3 with an RBI single in Friday’s 6-2 opening-game victory over Central Washington and went 1 for 3 in the nightcap. In Sunday’s 12-10, nine-inning victory over Simon Fraser, Pinder went 3 for 5 with a grand slam in the Saints’ five-run second inning and a solo homer in the fourth.

Western Oregon junior Chelsea Smith won the Softball Pitcher of the Week honor after she picked up two wins last week. Smith allowed one run on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings in Monday’s 4-1 win at Chaminade. She went the distance in Saturday’s 10-2, five-inning win over Montana State Billings, allowing two runs on three hits with four walks and nine strikeouts.

On the courts, it was Northwest Nazarene sophomore forward Gabriel Murphy that won the final Men’s Basketball Player of the Week award of the season after he averaged 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in three wins. He shot 70.4 percent from the field in those games. Murphy led NNU with 20 points in Tuesday’s 85-64 win over Simon Fraser, making 8 of 11 from the field. He added 16 points and six rebounds in Thursday’s 90-57 win over Seattle Pacific and had 10 points and six rebounds in Saturday’s 76-41 win over Montana State Billings.

Simon Fraser senior guard Jessica Jones was named the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after averaging 22.5, 6.5 assists and five rebounds in a split in the final week of the regular season. Jones led SFU with 20 points, making 8 of 19 from the field and 4 of 7 from three-point range, in Tuesday’s 80-78 loss at Alaska. She then led all scorers with 25 points with six rebounds, six assists and two steals in Saturday’s 69-67 overtime win over Western Washington.

Western Washington swept the track weekly honors as the indoor season ended with the SPU Final Qualifier on Saturday in Seattle. Junior Mac Franks was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he lowered his lifetime best in the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.07. His winning time ranks No. 10 in Division II this season.

Junior Ethan Sterkel won yet another Men’s Field Athlete of the Week award after winning the long jump by nearly a foot with a mark of 23 feet, 8.25 inches.

Freshman Mia Crocker was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she won the mile in a time of 5:03.57, the third-fastest time in the GNAC this season. Junior Aliyah Dawkins earned the Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after she finished second in the high jump, tying her season-best mark of 5 feet, 6 inches.

On the links, Simon Fraser freshman Ryan Hodgins was named the Men’s Golf Player of the Week after he placed second in a largely Division I field at The Joust at Goose Creek in California last Monday and Tuesday. Hodgins carded a three-round score of 2-over-par 215, finishing one stroke out of first place.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 27
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Gabriel Murphy (Northwest Nazarene, F, 6-9, So., Tracy, Calif. – Modesto Christian): Murphy averaged 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and shot 70.4 percent from the field as the Nighthawks closed the regular season with a 3-0 week. Murphy led NNU with 20 points in Tuesday’s 85-64 win over Simon Fraser, making 8 of 11 from the field. He added 16 points and six rebounds in Thursday’s 90-57 win over Seattle Pacific, which included a pair of three-pointers. Murphy closed the week with 10 points and six rebounds in Saturday’s 76-41 victory over Montana State Billings, making 5 of 8 from the field. Also Nominated: Shdeed Shabazz (Alaska), David Rowlands (Alaska Anchorage), Damen Thacker (Montana State Billings), Brett Reed (Saint Martin’s), Josiah Mastandrea (Simon Fraser), Yosani Clay (Western Oregon), D’Angelo Minnis (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Jessica Jones (Simon Fraser, G, 5-9, Sr., Richmond, B.C. - McMath): Jones averaged 22.5 points, five rebounds and 6.5 assists per game as SFU closed the regular season with a 1-1 week. Jones paced her team with 20 points in Tuesday’s 80-78 loss at Alaska, making 8 of 19 from the field and 4 of 7 from three-point range with seven assists. Jones led all scorers with 25 points with six rebounds, six assists and two steals in Saturday’s 69-67 overtime win over Western Washington. Also Nominated: Caitlin Pusich (Alaska), Tennae Voliva (Alaska Anchorage), Samantha Bowman (Central Washington), Taryn Shelley (Montana State Billings), Teagan Thurman (Northwest Nazarene), Tresai McCarver (Western Oregon), Emma Duff (Western Washington).

MEN’S TRACK
Mac Franks (Western Washington, Jr., Lake Forest Park, Wash. – Shorecrest): Franks won the 800 meters at the SPU Final Qualifier, lowering his school record and No. 4 time on the GNAC all-time with a time of 1:50.07. The time ranks No. 10 in Division II this season, all but assuring an invitation to the NCAA Championships. Also Nominated: Paul Buckingham (Simon Fraser), Hunter Hutton (Western Oregon).

MEN’S FIELD
Ethan Sterkel (Western Washington, Jr., Longview, Wash. – RA Long): Sterkel won the long jump at the SPU Final Qualifier with a mark of 23 feet, 8.25 inches. Sterkel won by nearly a foot over Drew Quach of George Fox. Also Nominated: Marlon Harrison (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Mia Crocker (Western Washington, Fr., Sammamish, Wash. – Skyline): Crocker was the winner in the mile at the SPU Final Qualifier, crossing the line in a season-best time of 5:03.57. Also Nominated: Diana Voloshin (Simon Fraser), Caitlin Heldt (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Aliyah Dawkins (Western Washington, Jr., North Mankato, Minn. – Mankato West): Dawkins took second in the high jump at the SPU Qualifier, clearing 5 feet, 6 inches to tie her season-best mark.

BASEBALL PLAYER
Parker Price (Northwest Nazarene, IF, 5-10, Sr., Boise, Idaho – Gonzaga Univ.): Price batted .467 to help the Nighthawks split against No. 2 ranked Colorado Mesa, going 7 for 15 with two runs, five doubles and two RBI. Price went 4 for 5 with three doubles and scored the winning run in a 9-8 victory in Friday’s opener. He went 1 for 2 with two walks and a two-RBI double in a 4-0 victory in the nightcap. He had a hit in each of Saturday’s games, which included a double in the opener. Also Nominated: Charlie Larson (Central Washington), Mitch Winter (Montana State Billings), John Stark (Western Oregon).

BASEBALL PITCHER
Dylan Barkley (Montana State Billings, P, 5-11, Jr., Missoula, Mont. – Missoula): Barkley limited Colorado Christian to one hit over eight innings in a 6-0 win in Friday’s opener. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth, allowing two walks and striking out eight. He retired the first 13 batters he faced and has not allowed a run in three of his four starts this season. Also Nominated: Ryan Arredondo (Central Washington), Haden Keller (Northwest Nazarene), Bryce Bond (Western Oregon).

SOFTBALL PLAYER
Malia Pinder (Saint Martin’s, IF, 5-2, So., Bothell, Wash. – North Creek): Pinder batted .545 in a 2-1 week for the Saints, going 6 for 11 with two runs, two home runs and six RBI. She went 2 for 3 with an RBI single in Friday’s 6-2 opening-game victory over Central Washington and went 1 for 3 in the nightcap. In Sunday’s 12-10, nine-inning win over Simon Fraser, Pinder went 3 for 5 with a grand slam that punctuated a five-run second for the Saints before hitting a solo homer in the fourth. Also Nominated: Marin Penney (Montana State Billings), Emma Mulligan (Northwest Nazarene), Chelsea Hotner (Simon Fraser), Natalie Willoughby (Western Oregon), Chantelle Shimabukuro (Western Washington).

SOFTBALL PITCHER
Chelsea Smith (Western Oregon, P, 5-7, Jr., Tacoma, Wash. – Hesston Coll.): Smith picked up two wins in the circle for the Wolves, compiling a 1.91 earned run average over 11 innings. She earned the win in Monday’s 4-1 win at Chaminade, allowing one run on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. She also earned the complete-game win in Saturday’s 10-2, five-inning win over Montana State Billings, allowing two runs on three hits with four walks and nine strikeouts. Also Nominated: Alyssa Etheridge (Montana State Billings), Sidney Booth (Northwest Nazarene), Kylie Parsons (Saint Martin’s).

MEN’S GOLF
Ryan Hodgins (Simon Fraser, Fr., Medicine Hat, Alta. – Monsignor McCoy): Hodgins tied for second place in a largely Division I field at The Joust at Goose Creek, carding a three-round score of 2-over-par 215. He finished one stroke out of the lead and turned in a low round of 1-under-par 70 in the second round. Also Nominated: Tyler Fitchett (Saint Martin’s), Aidan Thain (Western Washington).