Three on MCC’s First Team, Two Honorable Mentions for Baseball Squad
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Five members of the league championship Statesmen baseball program were honored for extraordinary seasons as the all-Midwest Collegiate Conference baseball teams were announced Friday.
Shortstop Enrique Alvarado (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Sociology), relief pitcher Corey Lathram (So., Brentwood, Calif., Physical Education), and center fielder Stan Simmons (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y., Physical Education) were all named to the league’s first team, while left fielder Kyle Mauricio (Jr., Arden Hills, Minn., Physical Education) and third baseman/pitcher Jayme Mueller (Sr., Mundelein, Ill., Sociology) were honorable mentions.
The awards are the first for all five student-athletes. A total of 17 players were named to the MCC’s top squad, while an additional 21 earned honorable mentions.
Head Coach Mike Laird brought home hardware as well by being named MCC Coach of the Year by his peers. The honor is the ninth of his career and fifth as a skipper in the MCC. Laird guided William Penn to a 23-18 overall record, including a 12-8 MCC mark. The Statesmen netted their 13th conference title this spring, including their fifth since joining the MCC in 2002.
Alvarado hit .322 (39-for-121) with three doubles, 26 runs scored, and 13 RBIs. He had a nine-game hitting streak this season. Busy on the defensive end as well, the junior was fourth in the MCC with 95 assists.
Lathram drew the role of workhorse for a depleted William Penn pitching staff. He worked a team-best 20 games, all out of the bullpen, posting a 5-2 record with a 2.91 Earned Run Average in 46 1/3 innings. The sophomore struck out 44, walked 14, and allowed opponents to hit just .250.
Lathram ranked second in the league in pitching appearances and games finished (15) and third in saves (2).
Simmons was tremendous as the team’s leadoff batter, hitting .313 (45-for-144) with seven doubles, one triple, and two home runs. He also scored 36 times and drove in 26 runs. The junior ranked first in the MCC in runs scored and hit-by-pitches (14), while being fourth in hits, RBIs, and total bases (60). He had an eight-game hitting streak this season.
Mauricio topped WPU’s hitting crew with a .331 batting average (49-for-148), including two doubles, one triple, 26 RBIs, and 26 runs scored. A two-time MCC Player of the Week, he ranked third in the conference in hits and fourth in RBIs. He had a team-best 11-game hitting streak this season.
Due to injuries, Mueller was ‘utilized’ all over the field in his senior year. He hit .305 (36-for-118) with seven doubles, one triple, one home run, 29 RBIs, and 15 runs scored. He was second among conference players in RBIs and walks (20). Mueller matched Mauricio with a team-best 11-game hitting streak this season.
A one-time MCC Pitcher of the Week, Mueller also found plenty of success on the mound. He was 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 39 innings of work. He struck out 29 (nine walks) and permitted batters to hit just .238 versus him.
Blake Marchant of Grand View was tabbed as the MCC’s Player of the Year, while Chris Dunn of Viterbo received Pitcher of the Year laurels.
