William Penn Athletics News–March 14‏

William Penn University Athletics

York Wins First POW Award

Oskaloosa–Anthony York (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education) saw the ball extremely well last week and was rewarded for his success as he was named Heart of America Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Week Monday.

York won his first career award by leading William Penn (9-4) to a perfect 5-0 week (games from last Monday through Sunday). During that span, he hit .722 (13-for-18) with five doubles, seven RBIs, and seven runs scored. York walked four times as well and also stole three bases.

The junior posted at least two hits in all five victories, but had his best outing against Presentation (S.D.) with four base knocks. He also had a week-high three RBIs in the other game against Presentation, while scoring a week-best three runs versus Dordt.

For the year, York is hitting an incredible .553 (26-for-47) with seven doubles, two triples, 13 RBIs, and 15 runs scored. His .787 slugging and .618 on-base percentages are also team bests. The junior is perfect on the basepaths as well, going 9-for-9 in stolen bases.

The award is the first for William Penn this year.

Statesmen Go Hit Crazy on Spring Break

Tucson, Ariz.–It was nearly a clean sweep for the William Penn baseball team last week as it played nine games as part of its Spring Break trip.

WPU (9-4) won eight of its nine matchups, dropping its lone contest on the first day. The navy and gold departed the Grand Canyon State on a seven-game winning streak. It is the program’s longest streak since also winning seven straight during the 2010 season.

On Saturday (March 5), the Statesmen won 7-3 and fell 9-3 to Concordia (Neb.). The following day, the team started its streak by sweeping Ashford 12-5 and 26-3.

After taking a day off, the offense continued last Tuesday with 11-1 and 9-1 victories against Dakota State (S.D.). WPU then dropped Presentation (S.D.) 10-2 and 9-5 on Wednesday. The week concluded with a 16-1 (7 innings) dismantling of Dordt on Friday.

WPU 7, Concordia (Neb.) 3

Headlined by a 3-for-3 outing by Anthony York (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education), the Statesmen owned an 8-6 edge in hits. Johnny Valdez (Jr., San Jacinto, Calif., Business Management) and William Vazquez (Jr., North Hollywood, Calif., General Accounting) were both 2-for-3, while Valdez also scored twice.

Dylan McDonald (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Industrial Technology) tossed a solid five innings, striking out five and limiting the Bulldogs to two earned runs on five hits. Logan Overly (Sr., Oakley, Calif., Secondary Education) also picked up a trio of strikeouts in two innings.

Concordia (Neb.) 9, WPU 3

William Penn led 3-1 after four frames, but CUNE scored four times in both the fifth and seventh to claim the split. The squad was outhit 7-2 and committed three errors.

Frankie Nunez (Jr., Lemon Grove, Calif., Sociology) went four innings with three strikeouts, but it was Aaron Soto (Jr., Lawndale, Calif., Communications) who took the loss. The junior struck out five in three relief frames.

WPU 12, Ashford 5

Down 3-0 after the opening two innings, WPU went off with at least one run in each of the last five innings, highlighted by five in the fourth and four in the seventh. The team narrowly outhit the Saints 11-10 and overcame three fielding mistakes.

J.P. Rios (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Business Management) was one of the top hitters, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Vazquez and T.J. Murphy (So., Woodenville, Wash., Exercise Science) were both 2-4 with four RBIs. Javier Gonzalez (Jr., Lakeside, Calif., Physical Education) managed two hits, while York, Steven Sattz (Sr., Pickering, Ontario, Physical Education), and Valdez all scored twice. Cory Russell (Jr., El Cajon, Calif., Education) drove in two runs as well.

Tyler Martinez (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Sociology) was a bit rocky, but still earned the win. The senior permitted two runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings; he finished with two strikeouts against four walks. Brian Harrity (Castle Rock, Colo., Software Engineering) entered out of the bullpen and was strong, giving up only one hit in a 2 1/3-inning effort.

WPU 26, Ashford 3

It was a record-setting performance in the second outing as York’s five hits tied a school mark (since 1999). He also scored four times and batted in three more tallies.

Valdez was huge as well, going 4-for-5 with eight RBIs and four runs. His eight runs tie for the second most since 1999 and the most since Todd Clark had a school record of nine, also vs. Ashford, in 2006. Valdez managed a home run as part of his incredible showing.

Russell and Gonzalez had multiple hits (the Statesmen outhit AU 18-7), while Macias, Russell, and Gonzalez all recorded multiple RBIs. Murphy, Rios, Daniel Macias (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education), Tevin Nishiyama (Sr., Honolulu, Hawaii, Physical Education), and Robert Phiakeo (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Business Management) all crossed home on at least two occasions as well.

WPU produced back-to-back double-digit scoring innings with 11 in the fourth and 10 in the fifth.

Dakota Herman (Woodland Park, Colo., Biology) struck out a half dozen in a half-dozen innings and did not allow an earned run. Marshall Siordia (Sr., Lancaster, Calif., Sociology and Psychology) also struck out one batter in one inning of relief.

WPU 11, Dakota State 1

There was no slowdown against DSU as William Penn outhit them 15-5. The entire lineup was productive with everyone having at least one hit. Russell and Gonzalez each tallied three base knocks, while York and Valdez came up with two apiece.

Phiakeo drove in a team-best three RBIs (Gonzalez and Vazquez had two each), while Gonzalez came around four times (Russell scored three runs, Valdez scored twice).

Overly went the distance, striking out four batters in a complete game.

WPU 9, Dakota State 1

The navy and gold were equally as dominant in the second contest with a 12-3 advantage in hits. Phiakeo was the best with three, and Rios, York, and Russell all posted two. Phiakeo also had the most RBIs with three (York and Russell had two). Nishiyama stepped on home plate twice in pinch-running opportunities.

Siordia was strong with eight Ks in 5 1/3 innings, while York was untouched in 1 1/3 frames (one K).

WPU 10, Presentation 2

An 18-8 margin in hits was guided by York reaching four times. Macias and Valdez did so on three occasions, while Gonzalez and Vazquez concluded with two base knocks. Phiakeo and Russell both brought in two runs via their bats, while York, Gonzalez, and Vazquez all scored two times as well.

Harrity’s six strikeouts highlighted his 6 1/3-inning performance.

WPU 9, Presentation 5

Both teams ended up with 11 hits, but Presentation committed four errors to doom its cause.

York was tops with three hits and three RBIs, while Russell homered as part of his two-hit showing (Vazquez had two hits as well). Rios also batted in a pair of runs in the victory. Pinchrunner Marcus Littleton (Jr., Norwalk, Iowa, Communications) did his job by getting around the pads three times.

WPU 16, Dordt 1

In a game scheduled for nine innings, the Statesmen were able to mercy-run rule the Defenders with a 15-6 edge in hits. The victors managed five runs in the second and six in the fifth.

Macias came up with the best day, tallying four hits with three RBIs and three runs scored. Four other players had two hits each, while Russell drove in four runs (Valdez and Phiakeo had two RBIs each). York matched Macias with three runs, and four of their teammates rounded the bases twice each.

McDonald permitted only one run in six innings, while striking out four batters.

Overall, William Penn hit an astounding .417 for the week, including 29 extra-base hits.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Springfield, Mo. Wednesday to play Evangel in its Heart of America Athletic Conference-opening doubleheader at 1 p.m.