William Penn Athletic News March 30th
Rowley Clears Fence Twice in DH Split With Mount Mercy
Oskaloosa–In a rematch of last year’s tournament final, the Lady Statesmen obtained a split of a Midwest Collegiate Conference softball doubleheader against Mount Mercy Wednesday.
Penn (17-7, 2-1 MCC) fell 7-4 to Mustangs in the opener and then claimed the nightcap 8-1.
A beautiful day lent itself to several long bombs as the teams combined to hit six roundtrippers.
William Penn's Softball Team in action against Mount Mercy on March 30, 2011
Seven of the eight runs scored by Mount Mercy (9-10, 2-2 MCC) came via home runs, including the day’s first three runs as the Mustangs sprinted out to a 3-0 lead after one-half inning.
The visitors tacked on another run to make it 4-0, while the home squad was fumbling with just one base knock to its credit.
Penn finally broke through in the fourth when Brianne Rowley (Jr., Hood River, Ore., Blue Mountain CC) drove a one-out pitch over the right-center fence.
The Lady Statesmen tallied another hit and were fortunate to keep the inning alive on an error by the Mustangs. Penn then capitalized with back-to-back hit-by-pitches to bring home Ashley Stream (Jr., Chariton, Chariton HS).
Cassie Lohman (So., Burbank, Calif., Providence HS) capped off the rally with a two-run single, plating both Brittany Labbe (So., Northridge, Calif., Chaminade HS) and Cassie Holt (Jr., Twin Lakes, Wis., Muskego HS) to knot the score at 4-4.
The tie held for five more frames before Mount Mercy broke free with three runs in the top of the tenth and held on for victory.
The hosts were doubled up in hits 10-5 (five different players had one hit each).
Jennifer Whitehead (Fr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) nearly collected the win in a tough outing. The freshman (8-5) allowed seven runs (all earned) on ten hits. She sat seven down on strikeouts, but also walked four.
The Mustangs appeared on their way to a sweep by also scoring the first run of the nightcap, of course via a home run in the second inning.
Fortunately, Penn responded soon thereafter when Ashley Nieto (Jr., Cement City, Mich., Jackson CC) scored on an error in the third.
The fourth frame was again lucky for the Lady Statesmen as they erupted for five runs on four hits, highlighted by a three-run double by Nieto and a two-run homer by Rowley, her team-leading eighth of the season.
Two insurance runs were added in the sixth with Lohman and Rowley each touching all four bases.
Penn, who secured a small 9-8 edge in hits, was led by Rowley’s 3-for-4 showing (2 R, 2 RBI as well), while Nieto was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs.
Amber Daly (Jr., Napa, Calif., Solano CC) scattered the eight hits in her complete-game win. She struck out one and walked one to improve to 8-1.
Next: Penn and the city of Oskaloosa host the first of two MCC Weekends this Saturday and Sunday at the Lacey Complex. A total of 20 games will be played over the two days. On Saturday, the Lady Statesmen face Viterbo at 1:15 p.m. and Ashford at 3:30 p.m. On Sunday, Penn meets Clarke at 11 a.m. and Iowa Wesleyan at 1:15 p.m.
Penn Wins Silver at Simpson
Indianola–An extra day of practice was exactly what the doctor ordered as the Statesmen linksters claimed a high finish at the Simpson Spring Invitational Wednesday.
In an event that was postponed 24 hours due to weather, Penn placed second out of 23 teams with a score of 300 at Indianola Country Club, a par-71 layout.
Perennial Division III powerhouse Central took the team crown by a narrow margin of just two strokes at 298.
Alex Huyser of Central was the lone player (out of 125 competitors) to break par, shooting a one-under 70 to defeat teammate Drew Osier by one shot.
Viktor Heurlin (Fr., Stockholm, Sweden, Frans Schartau HS) once again topped his squad, this time shooting a one-over 72 to earn bronze status.
Sebastian Stobart (Jr., Harare, Zimbabwe, St. Georges College) was just behind him, tying for fifth at 74, while Zach Chavez (Fr., Pasadena, Texas, Pasadena Memorial HS) also had a top-ten placing by tying for eighth at 75.
Adriaan de Villiers (So., Akasia, South Africa, Akasia HS) tied for 38th at 79 and Geoff Dammann (So., Wyoming, Midland HS) rounded out his team’s scoring by carding an 81 (T-52nd).
Penn also had its junior varsity squad in action and Rutger van Brouwershaven (Fr., Johannesburg, South Africa, American International School of Johannesburg) topped the non-varsity members with a score of 78 (T-31st). The Blue team tied for 15th in the team standings at 332.
Next: Penn is off a week before co-hosting the Eagle-Statesmen Spring Classic with AIB next Friday and Saturday at The Preserve GC in Moravia.
