William Penn Athletics News–March 31
William Penn University Athletics
Taylor Tabbed for First Award
Oskaloosa–Sam Taylor (Jr., Eddyville, Iowa, Industrial Technology) opened his outdoor campaign with two solid performances as he was named Midwest Collegiate Conference Men’s Track Athlete of the Week Monday.
Taylor earns his first honor after winning two events in last Friday’s dual against Grand View. The junior was first out of four individuals in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.01 seconds. He was clocked at just .01 seconds slower than the NAIA’s provisional standard.
Taylor was also tops in the three-person long jump field with a mark of 20-10. He currently ranks second in the league with both performances.
William Penn has now won four POW awards (first in outdoor).
Senior Southpaw Reaches Dozen POW Laurels
Oskaloosa–Although she lost for the first this season, Jennifer Whitehead (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Biology) produced ridiculous numbers the rest of the way to once again be named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week Monday.
Whitehead, now a 12-time honoree in her career (three this spring) helped William Penn (16-7, 4-0 MCC) to a 5-1 week. The Statesmen are currently riding a season-best five-game winning streak.
The senior had a bumpy start to the week with a setback–her first of 2014–to Calumet-St. Joseph (Ind.) on Friday (three strikeouts). She was nearly untouchable after that, giving up only one base knock to Judson (Ill.) on Saturday (eight strikeouts) and then tossing a no-hitter against Viterbo on Sunday.
In the no-hitter (her second of the year–fourth of her career), Whitehead struck out 12 batters. She continued her mastery into the nightcap where she earned her first save with two perfect frames (three Ks). Only two batters reached base in the nine innings she worked–both being hit by pitch. Both individuals were part of double plays in VU’s next at-bats so Whitehead only faced the minimum of 27 batters in the two matchups.
For the year, Whitehead is 10-1 with one save and a 0.53 Earned Run Average. In 79 1/3 innings, she has struck out 78 and opponents are only hitting .112 against her. The senior has five shutouts this season.
William Penn has now won five POW awards.
