Seven Schools Represented in Player of the Week Awards for March 11-17
St. Louis, Mo. - The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) has announced the Athletes of the Week for the week of March 11-17.
BASEBALL - HITTER
Webster University's Alex Kazmierski, a senior
from Orland Park, Ill. (Triton CC), has been named the Diamond
Sports Baseball Hitter of the Week for the week of March 11-17.
Kazmierski, an outfielder, hit .545 for the week with a .909 slugging percentage. He started the week 2-for-3 with a three-run home run to dead center field in a 6-5 victory over the College of New Jersey. He then went 1-for-3 with a walk and one stolen base in a 5-0 win versus #9 Saint Joseph's (Me.). Kazmierski finished the week with a 3-for-5 effort, including a double, one RBI and one run scored as the Gorloks defeated #25 Augustana (Ill.), 9-4.
BASEBALL - PITCHER
Spalding University's Mike Grindstaff, a
sophomore from Joliet, Ill. (Northern Illinois Univ.), has been
named the Diamond Sports Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the week
of March 11-17.
Grindstaff, a right-handed pitcher, threw a complete, nine-inning game to lead the Golden Eagles to a 2-1 victory over Rhodes College at the Matt Russ Invitational last week. Grindstaff tallied 16 strikeouts in the win and allowed just four hits, three walks and one run.
SOFTBALL - HITTER
Blackburn College's Lauren Rhodes, a freshman from
Yorkville, Ill., has been named the Softball Hitter of the Week for
the week of March 11-17.
Rhodes, a pitcher/third baseman, went 14-for-25 at the plate for a .560 batting average and .960 slugging percentage in seven games played last week. She also recorded a total of two doubles, one triple, two home runs and 12 RBI on the week. Rhodes had five multi-hit games, including a 3-for-3 performance with two doubles, one triple and two RBI in a 6-2 victory versus Emmanuel (Mass.). She also had three hits, three RBI and three runs scored in a 19-3 win over Hilbert.
SOFTBALL - PITCHER
Eureka College's Tomi Tapper, a senior
from East Peoria, Ill., has been named the Softball Pitcher of the
Week for the week of March 11-17.
Tapper made her first collegiate pitching appearance since 2009 and fired the Red Devils' first no-hitter since 2006 in a 15-0 victory versus Cairn (Pa.) at the National Collegiate Sports Invitational in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. She struck out seven and walked two in the five-inning outing. Tapper followed that performance with her second complete game shutout of the week, allowing only four hits and striking out five in a 4-0 win over Arcadia (Pa.).
Tapper finished the week 2-1 on the mound with a 1.47 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 19.0 innings of work.
MEN'S TENNIS
Principia College's Joey Sander, a
freshman from Camarillo, Calif. (Adolfo Camarillo), has been named
the Men's Tennis Player of the Week for the week of March
11-17.
Sander posted a 4-2 overall record for the week, including a 2-1 record at both #2 Singles and #1 Doubles. He posted a 6-1, 6-0 victory at #2 Singles against East Texas Baptist University and then went on to win a 4-6, 7-5, 10-3 decision in singles play versus Colorado College. Sander also partnered with teammate Jason Wissman to record 9-8 and 8-5 victories at #1 Doubles against East Texas Baptist and Colorado College respectively. Both of Sander's losses came in an 8-1 defeat to Albion College. He lost 6-3, 6-1 at #2 Singles and 8-2 at #1 Doubles.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Principia College's Hanne Andersen, a
freshman from Orinda, Calif. (Principia Upper School), has been
named the Women's Tennis Player of the Week for the week of March
11-17.
Andersen went 3-1 in singles action and 2-2 in doubles play last week. She won a 4-6, 6-3 (10-8) decision at #4 Singles against Westmont College to start the week. After suffering a loss in singles play in a match versus Vanguard University, Andersen went on to win her last two singles matches of the week at #4 and #3 Singles respectively. She defeated Cal Lutheran's Carly Mouzes, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(1) and Connecticut College's Sarah Krivoshir, 7-6(7-2), 6-2.
In doubles action, Andersen and teammate Kelly Adams posted two victories to finish the week. They won 8-6 at #2 Doubles against Cal Lutheran and also recorded an 8-2 win at #2 Doubles versus Connecticut College.
MEN'S FIELD
Greenville College's Bryan Waugh, a
sophomore from Granite City, Ill., has been named the Men's Field
Athlete of the Week for the week of March 11-17.
Waugh finished 10th out of 27 throwers in the discus at the Rhodes College Open. He posted a throw of 135'11" and finishing behind one unattached, six NCAA DI, one NCAA DIII and one NAIA throwers.
MEN'S TRACK
Westminster College's Jesse Edwards, a freshman
from Rogersville, Mo. (Logan Rogersville), has been named the Men's
Track Athlete of the Week for the week of March 11-17.
Edwards placed first in the 3000-meter run at the CMU Early Bird Open. He posted a time of 9:45.70 to win the event.
WOMEN'S FIELD
Greenville College's Abby Hill, a sophomore from
Brownstone, Ill. (St. Elmo), has been named the Women's Field
Athlete of the Week for the week of March 11-17.
Hill finished third out of 26 competitors in the hammer with a personal best throw at the Rhodes College Open. She posted a distance of 139'9", placing behind two throwers from Southeast Missouri.
WOMEN'S TRACK
Westminster College's Kaily Downey, a senior from
Kirkwood, Mo., has been named the Women's Track Athlete of the Week
for the week of March 11-17.
Downey posted a time of 11:07.62 in the 3000-meter run at the CMU Early Bird Open. She placed second, as she competed against two unattached runners.