Tuesday, April 5, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. - Perhaps all Simon Fraser needed was a trip south.

Simon Fraser entered the Tournament of Champions having lost seven of its last eight games, dropping all four games of a GNAC series to Saint Martin’s on Mar. 19 and 20 and three of four games to Central Washington on Mar. 26 and 27.

In the annual showcase of West Region teams in Turlock, California this past weekend, it was SFU that paced the conference with a 4-1 record. After dropping its first game of the tourney 9-7 to Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday, SFU won four straight. Friday ended with a 10-3 win over Holy Names before they scored a 7-1 win over Academy of Art and a 7-5 win over San Francisco State on Saturday. They closed out the tournament Sunday with a 1-0 win over Cal St. Dominguez Hills.

Junior Hanna Finkelstein was named the Top Hitter of the tournament and also picked up GNAC Softball Player of the Week honors after she batted .625 in the tournament, going 10 for 16 with six runs scored, four doubles, a triple, a home run and 11 RBI. As a team, Simon Fraser batted .300 in the TOC.

Central Washington and Western Washington each went 3-2 at the Tournament of Champions and also provided the top two pitching performances for the conference. Senior Rhaney Harris was named the GNAC Pitcher of the Week after she was the winner in the circle in all three of the Wildcats’ wins. She allowed four runs on 20 hits and struck out 10 in 21 innings, amassing a 1.33 earned run average.

Vikings sophomore Sydney Brown threw the 30th no-hitter in GNAC history in Sunday’s 6-0 win over Academy of Art and just the 11th seven-inning no-hitter in conference history. She allowed two walks and struck out three. She threw 90 pitches in the win, 57 for strikes, as Brown improved to 7-2 on the season.

The GNAC finished with a 15-19 overall record in the Tournament of Champions, which featured all but one of the West Region’s softball programs. Four GNAC players were named to the All-Tournament Team: Finkelstein, Western Washington senior Chantelle Shimabukuro, Western Oregon sophomore Sophie Franklin and Central Washington junior Allie Thiessen.

With the Tournament of Champions done, the focus will be on conference play for the rest of the season. Montana State Billings will host Northwest Nazarene for a four-game series on Friday and Saturday. Simon Fraser will host Western Washington and Saint Martin’s will host Central Washington with games played on Saturday and Sunday.

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THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
Hanna Finkelstein, Simon Fraser
1B/P • 5-7 • Junior • Richmond, B.C.

Finkelstein led Simon Fraser’s 4-1 week at the Tournament of Champions with a .625 batting average, going 10 for 16 with six runs, 11 RBI, four doubles, a triple and a home run. She went 2 for 4 with an RBI double in Friday’s 9-7 loss to Cal State Monterey Bay and then went 3 for 5 with a bases-clearing triple and a two-RBI in double in the 10-3 win over Holy Names. Finkelstein opened Saturday by going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI single in the 7-1 win over Academy of Art before going 3 for 4 with a two-run double in the 7-5 win over San Francisco State.

Also Nominated: Allie Thiessen (Central Washington), Brittanee Fisher (Montana State Billings), Malia Pinder (Saint Martin’s), Sophie Franklin (Western Oregon), Chantelle Shimabukuro (Western Washington).

PITCHER
Rhaney Harris, Central Washington
P • 5-8 • Senior • Omak, Wash.

Harris was the winner in the circle in all three of the Wildcats’ victories at the Tournament of Champions, all in complete-game efforts. Harris allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts in Friday’s 2-1 win over San Francisco State. She allowed two runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Azusa Pacific and ended the week by allowing one run on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Cal State East Bay. For the week, Harris compiled a 1.33 earned run average and struck out 10 in 21 innings pitched.

Also Nominated: Jenna Kister (Montana State Billings), Chloe Leverington (Saint Martin’s), Julia Hansen (Simon Fraser), Chelsea Smith (Western Oregon), Sydney Brown (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington went 3-2 at the Tournament of Champions. The Wildcats opened with a 2-1 win over San Francisco State on Friday before taking a 1-0 loss to Biola. On Saturday, CWU beat Azusa Pacific 4-2 and took a 7-5 loss to Dominican (Calif.). The tournament wrapped up on Sunday with a 5-1 win over Cal State East Bay.

• Senior Rhaney Harris was named the GNAC Pitcher of the Week after she earned all three wins for the Wildcats in the circle. On Friday, Harris allowed one run on five hits and struck out three to beat San Francisco State. She allowed two runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts to beat Azusa Pacific on Saturday. On Sunday, Harris allowed one run on nine hits and a walk and struck out five to beat Cal State East Bay. In the three wins, Harris amassed a 1.33 earned run average. She enters the week eighth in the GNAC with a 3.35 earned run average.

• Junior Allie Thiessen was named to the All-Tournament Team after she batted .444 in the five games, going 8 for 18 with three runs and two doubles. Thiessen went 2 for 4 with a double against Azusa Pacific and then went 3 for 4 with two runs scored against Dominican (Calif.). Thiessen ended the tourney by going 2 for 3 with a run against Cal State East Bay. Thiessen is second in the GNAC with a .429 batting average and is fourth with 45 hits.

• Sophomore Makenna King and freshman Karsyn Decker each batted .385 in the tournament with both players batting 5 for 13. King’s week was topped by a 2 for 3 effort against Biola, which included a double. Decker also went 2 for 3 against Biola and had two stolen bases.

• Central Washington enters the week with a .289 batting average and a 4.38 earned run average.

• The Wildcats return home this week to host Saint Martin’s for a four-game series on Saturday and Sunday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings went 1-4 at the Tournament of Champions. The Yellowjackets took a 6-1 loss to Cal State San Bernardino and a 4-0 loss to Chaminade on Friday. After a 5-3 loss to Hawaii Pacific and a 5-2 loss to Cal State East Bay on Saturday, MSUB snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over Dominican (Calif.) on Sunday.

• Senior Brittanee Fisher was the bright spot in the MSUB offense with a .571 batting average in the five games, going 8 for 14 with one run and four RBI. Fisher opened the tourney by going 3 for 3 with an RBI single against Cal State San Bernardino. She went 2 for 3 in the final two games and had a two-RBI single against Cal State East Bay and an RBI single against Dominican. Fisher enters the week with a .373 batting average and is tied for second in the GNAC with eight home runs.

• Senior Allie Hughes went 4 for 15 in the five games with a run scored and two doubles. She had a hit in four of the five games and knocked out doubles against Cal State San Bernardino and Chaminade. Hughes enters the week with a .228 batting average.

• Sophomore Jenna Kister earned the Yellowjackets’ win in the circle over Dominican, allowing one run on three hits with seven strikeouts. The one run allowed was a solo home run in the second. Kister enters the week with a 5.12 earned run average.

• The Yellowjackets have a .245 batting average and a 4.33 earned run average. They lead the GNAC with 29 home runs.

• Montana State Billings returns home for its next eight games, beginning with welcoming Northwest Nazarene for a four-game series on Friday and Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• It was a rough weekend for Northwest Nazarene, which lost all four of its games at the Tournament of Champions. The Nighthawks lost 3-2 to Holy Names and 3-1 to Dominican (Calif.) on Friday before taking a 6-1 loss to Cal St. Monterey Bay and a 2-0 loss to Cal St. San Bernardino on Saturday.

• Senior Ivy Hommel and sophomore Sidney Booth each went 4 for 13, batting .308 for the tournament for the Nighthawks. Hommel had hits in three of the four games, topped by a 2 for 4 performance against Cal State Monterey Bay. Hommel enters the week with a .359 batting average and is tied for second in the GNAC with two triples.

• Booth had a pair of 2 for 4 performances against Holy Names and Cal St. Monterey Bay. She was also the starting pitcher for three of the Nighthawks’ four games. She went the distance against Dominican, allowing three runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts. She also threw a complete game against Cal St. San Bernardino, allowing two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts. Booth has a 9-8 record and leads the GNAC with a 2.07 earned run average. She is also tied for fifth with a .400 batting average. Booth is fourth in Division II with 16 complete games and 30th with 117 strikeouts.

• Northwest Nazarene continues to lead the GNAC with a 2.67 earned run average and enters the week with a .277 batting average. The Nighthawks rank 15th in Division II with 13 sacrifice flies and 19th with 122 walks drawn.

• The Nighthawks travel to Billings this week for a four-game series with Montana State Billings on Friday and Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s went 2-3 at the Tournament of Champions. The Saints split on Friday, losing to Academy of Art 11-9 in eight innings and beating Sonoma State 6-1. They also split on Saturday, beating Stanislaus State 5-2 before losing to Cal St. Dominguez Hills 8-0. The Saints closed with a 5-1 loss to Cal St. Monterey Bay on Sunday.

• Sophomore Malia Pinder once again led the SMU offense with a .375 batting average, going 6 for 16 with a double and three RBI. Pinder went 2 for 5 against Academy of Art with an RBI single. She then went 2 for 4 against Sonoma State with a two-run double that opened scoring in the first. Pinder also had a hit in each on Saturday’s games. Pinder is eighth in the GNAC with a .381 batting average.

• Sophomore Vanessa Smoke also batted .333 at the tournament, going 5 for 15 with three runs scored, one double, one home run and six RBI. Smoke went 2 for 5 in the opener against Academy of Art with a double and a run scored. She then went 2 for 3 against Sonoma State with a two-run homer that capped the Saints’ three-run second. Smoke had her other hit against Cal State Monterey Bay, an RBI single in the first. Smoke enters the week with a .299 batting average.

• Sophomore Tia Ridings picked up both pitching wins, amassing a 3.00 earned run average in three starts. Against Sonoma State, Ridings allowed one run on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts to earn the win. She then went 4.2 innings against Stanislaus State, allowing one run on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Ridings enters the week with a 5-6 record and 4.29 earned run average.

• Saint Martin’s is third in the GNAC with a 3.81 earned run average and enters the week with a .280 batting average. The Saints rank 18th in Division II with 1.84 doubles per game.

• The Saints return home this week to host Central Washington for a four-game series on Saturday and Sunday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser led all GNAC teams with a 4-1 record at the Tournament of Champions. After a 9-7 loss to Cal St. Monterey Bay on Friday, SFU won four straight with a 10-3 victory over Holy Names on Friday, a 7-1 win over Academy of Art and a 7-5 win over San Francisco State on Saturday. They closed with a 1-0 win over Cal St. Dominguez Hills on Sunday.

• Junior Hanna Finkelstein was named to the All-Tournament Team, the Top Hitter of the tournament and the GNAC Player of the Week after she batted .625 in the tournament, going 10 for 16 with six runs scored, 11 RBI, four doubles, a triple and a home run. She went 2 for 4 with an RBI double against Cal State Monterey Bay and then went 3 for 5 with a bases-clearing triple and a two-RBI double against Holy Names. Finkelstein opened Saturday by going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI single against Academy of Art before going 3 for 4 with a two-run double against San Francisco State. Finkelstein is fourth in the GNAC with a .402 batting average. She ranks third in Division II with 1.60 RBI per game and 15th with 40 RBI.

• Junior Alex Ogg batted .368, going 7 for 19 with eight runs scored, a triple and three RBI. She went 2 for 4 in three games (Holy Names, Academy of Art and San Francisco State) and had two RBI and two doubles against Academy of Art. Ogg leads the GNAC and is 22nd in Division II with a .456 batting average.

• Freshman Julia Hansen won two of SFU’s four games in the circle while freshman Shaneika Hollingworth amassed a 0.84 earned run average in two appearances, allowing three runs, one earned, on nine hits in 8.1 innings.

• Simon Fraser leads the GNAC and is 19th in Division II with a .342 batting average and enters the week with a 6.67 earned run average. The team is sixth in Division II with 0.54 double plays per game and 2.18 doubles per game.

• Simon Fraser returns to conference play this week, hosting cross-border rival Western Washington for four games on Saturday and Sunday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon went 2-3 at the Tournament of Champions. The Wolves scored a 4-2 win over Dominican (Calif.) before taking a 2-0 loss to Cal St. Monterey Bay on Friday. They split again on Saturday, falling 7-1 to No. 1 Concordia Irvine and beating Academy of Art 5-4. The tourney closed with a 4-1 loss to Sonoma State on Sunday.

• Sophomore Sophie Franklin was named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing with a .500 batting average, going 7 for 14 with two runs scored, three doubles and two RBI. Franklin went 3 for 3 against Dominican, which included a double and an RBI single. She closed the week by going 2 for 3 against Sonoma State, including an RBI single. Franklin enters the week with a .314 batting average.

• Sophomore Natalie Willoughby batted .429 in the tournament, going 6 for 14 with three runs scored and a double. She had a hit in each game, topped by a 2 for 3 performance against Concordia Irvine that included a double and a run scored. Willoughby is ninth in the GNAC with a .380 batting average.

• Junior Chelsea Smith was the winner on Friday over Dominican, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six. Senior Maddie Mayer was the winner against Academy of Art, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Mayer is sixth in the GNAC with a 3.18 earned run average while Smith is ninth with a 3.52 ERA.

• Western Oregon is third in the GNAC with a .297 batting average and enters the week with a 3.99 earned run average. The Wolves are 13th in Division II with 130 walks drawn.

• The Wolves do not play this week. They return to the field on Apr. 15 and 16 with a four-game series at Northwest Nazarene.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington went 3-2 at the Tournament of Champions. The Vikings beat Cal Poly Humboldt 4-1 on Friday before seeing a seven-game win streak end with a 1-0 loss against Biola. They split on Saturday with a 4-2 loss to Sonoma State and a 10-8 win before closing with a 6-0 no-hit win over Academy of Art on Sunday.

• Senior Chantelle Shimabukuro was named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing with a .706 batting average, going 12 for 17 with three runs scored, three doubles, a triple and seven RBI. She went 2 for 3 in the first three games of the tournament, which included a double and an RBI single against Cal Poly Humboldt. Shimabukuro went 3 for 5 with an RBI single against Holy Names and finished by going 3 for 3 with an RBI triple and single against Academy of Art. Shimabukuro is third in the GNAC with a .424 batting average and is fifth in the GNAC with 39 hits.

• Sophomore Sydney Brown threw the 30th no-hitter in GNAC history in the win over Academy of Art and just the 11th seven-inning no-hitter in conference history. She allowed just two walks and struck out three. She threw 90 pitches in the win, 57 for strikes, and improved to 7-2 on the season. Brown is fourth in the GNAC with a 2.55 earned run average.

• Senior Dakota Brooks batted .500 in the tournament, going 8 for 16 with two runs, two doubles and two RBI. Brooks opened by going 2 for 3 against Cal Poly Humboldt. She then went 3 for 4 with an RBI single and double against Holy Names before going 2 for 4 against Academy of Art. Brooks enters the week with a .373 batting average.

• Western Washington enters the week ranked second in the GNAC with a .303 batting average and a 3.76 earned run average. The Vikings rank 17th in Division II with 63 doubles and 23rd with 1.80 doubles per game.

• The Vikings return to conference play this week, traveling north for a four-game series with Simon Fraser on Saturday and Sunday.