William Penn Athletics News–March 25
William Penn University Athletics
Simmons, Maldonado Take Weekly Diamond Honors
Oskaloosa–Stan Simmons (Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y., Physical Education) and Kyle Maldonado (Jr., Centerville, Iowa, Physical Education) were impressive last week and for their efforts they were given Midwest Collegiate Conference Baseball Player of the Week honors Tuesday.
Simmons was named Player of the Week, while Maldonado claimed the Pitcher of the Week accolade. The awards are the first for both individuals. The duo led William Penn (13-5) to a sweep of Graceland, 14-0 and 4-2 last Thursday.
Simmons was 5-for-7 at the plate (one triple), posting five RBIs and three runs scored. His showing in the second contest was especially strong by going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs scored, one walk, and one stolen base.
Maldonado struck out six (three walks), while giving up just two hits in six scoreless innings in the opener. He was perfect in the first and sixth frames and only allowed five players to reach second base.
For the year, Simmons is hitting .355 (22-for-62) with four doubles, two triples, 12 RBIs, and a team-best 13 runs scored. The junior has six multiple-hit games this year. Maldonado’s performance just adds to his strong start thus far in 2014. He is 2-0 with a team-low 0.53 Earned Run Average in 17 innings. The junior has combined for one shutout, struck out 19 batters (eight walks), and is only allowing opponents to hit .105 (WPU best).
William Penn has now claimed four weekly awards, sweeping the accolades for last two weeks.
Yang Takes First Honor
Oskaloosa–Jing Yang (Fr., Woodland Hills, Calif., Biology) proved there are two great players with the same last name on William Penn’s roster as she garnered Midwest Collegiate Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week laurels Tuesday.
A first-time honoree, Yang placed second out of 40 players with a four-over-par 76 at the Iowa Intercollegiate Championships. Elder teammate Maggie Yang (Jr., Chino, Calif., Business Management) (no relation) has also claimed the honor numerous times.
Jing’s career-best performance was good enough to help the 23rd-ranked Statesmen to yet another runner-up finish, taking second out of eight squads, trailing only #9 Bellevue (Neb.) by nine strokes with a 320. The second day of the tournament was cancelled due to poor playing conditions.
For the year, Yang owns an 81.7 scoring average in 12 rounds, including two in the 70s.
It is the fourth honor for WPU this year.
Baseball Receiving Votes for First Time Since 2008
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen baseball team’s hot start has helped it get onto the national radar as the NAIA released its first poll Tuesday.
William Penn (13-5), winners of two in a row and eight of its last ten, received 28 votes to be unofficially ranked 33rd. The squad is ranked for the first time since the 2009 preseason poll on November 11, 2008 (#27).
Defending national champion Faulkner (Ala.) remains #1 from the preseason rating with 560 points and 19 first-place votes. Oklahoma Baptist is second with the last first-place vote, while Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), Missouri Baptist, and San Diego Christian (Calif.) round out the top five.
The Statesmen are the only representatives from the Midwest Collegiate Conference in the poll.
William Penn opens league action Wednesday by hosting St. Ambrose in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
WPU Jumps Four Spots in Second Rating
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen softball squad is beginning to make noise as the NAIA released its second poll Tuesday.
William Penn (11-6), which has won four in a row, moved up four notches to #32 with 27 votes.
Concordia (Calif.) is still #1 with 556 points and 15 first-place votes. Oklahoma City is again second with five first-place votes, while Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.), LSU Alexandria (La.), and Saint Xavier (Ill.) round out the top five.
The Statesmen are the only representatives from the Midwest Collegiate Conference in the poll.
William Penn hosts Calumet-St. Joseph (Ind.) Friday in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.
