Oskaloosa–A pair of Statesmen collected postseason honors Monday as the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference baseball teams were announced.
Second baseman Anthony York (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education) was one of 17 first-team selections, while starting pitcher Dylan McDonald (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Industrial Technology) earned one of the 21 honorable mentions. A total of 16 other individuals were also tabbed for second-team recognition.
The awards are the first for both players who helped William Penn to a 24-23 record (14-18 Heart) this spring.
York was a tremendous hitter for the navy and gold, posting a team-high .407 batting average (66-for-162). The junior, who tallied 18 doubles, four triples, and one home run, also managed 36 RBIs and 35 runs scored. In addition to pacing WPU in average, he was also best in hits, doubles, steals (17), slugging percentage (.586), and on-base percentage (.459).
York owned an eight-game hitting streak and hit .700 (21-for-30) during that stretch. The second baseman ranked third in the conference in batting average, fifth in doubles, sixth in stolen bases, seventh in triples, eighth in on-base percentage, and 10th in hits.
McDonald finished the 2016 campaign with a 7-3 record and a 4.10 Earned Run Average. The right-handed hurler appeared in 11 games (all starts) as part of 68 total innings, going the distance in six of those contests. He struck out 52 batters and walked 27, and opponents hit .280 against him.
At one point, McDonald won six consecutive decisions from March 5 to April 3. The junior ranked third in the Heart in innings pitched per outing (6.2), while also being eighth in wins and ninth in hits allowed (75).
Jordan Eckley of MidAmerica Nazarene was named Heart Player of the Year, while E.J. Merlo of Avila earned Pitcher of the Year laurels. Avila’s Daryl Cronk was tabbed by his peers as Heart Coach of the Year.
To view the complete all-Heart teams, go to http://www.
Story provided by Wade Steinlage
