Olathe, Kan.–William Penn softball team was looking to gain some ground in the league standings Wednesday, but instead fell a bit more off the pace as it was swept by MidAmerica Nazarene in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader.

WPU (19-28, 6-12 Heart) lost by scores of 8-0 (5 innings) and 3-2 (8 innings).  The Statesmen, who need to finish in the top eight in the Heart standings to qualify for the conference tournament, are currently ninth and one game behind Missouri Valley (6-10) for the final berth.

Kodee Johnson (Jr., Stockton, Calif., General Mathematics) gave the impression that the navy and gold would have a big night as she opened the first game with a double.  Unfortunately, she was stranded in that frame and WPU was only able to produce two more hits as MNU (20-12, 10-8 Heart) took the opener.

The visitors, who were outhit 13-3 in the first matchup, finally got on the board with one run in the first inning of the nightcap on a Marissa Pereyra (Sr., Fullerton, Calif., Exercise Science) double that plated Tabitha Scott (Fr., Placentia, Calif., Psychology).

The Pioneers did not trail for long, answering to take a 2-1 advantage after one frame.  William Penn was setting up for a big inning in the fifth as it loaded the bases with only one out.  Pereyra drove in the tying run on a hit-by-pitch, but that was all the squad could muster.

On three other occasions, the Statesmen landed runners in scoring position, including putting Gabrielle Braniff (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Public Accounting and Business Management) on third base in the eighth, but they failed to come up with any additional run support for pitcher Elizabeth Whitaker (Jr., Azalea, Ore., Exercise Science).

MNU wrapped up the double dip in the bottom half of the eighth, scoring the game-winner on WPU’s second error of the contest.

William Penn owned an 8-5 advantage in hits with Brooklyn Bantz (So., Smithville, Mo., Psychology and Human Services) going 2-for-4.  Seven different Statesmen starters tallied at least one hit in the setback, while Whitaker struck out four against three walks.  Only one of the three runs she allowed was earned.

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Saturday to host Evangel in a Heart doubleheader beginning at noon.  The twinbill will also serve as Senior Day.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage

The Oskaloosa Boys’ Golf team competed at Edmundson Golf Course in Osky Tuesday against a duo of conference foes and were able to come out on top in regular season action.

Osky finished first, one stroke ahead of Pella Christian, with a 165. PC’s 166 outdistanced Dallas Center-Grimes’s score of 182.

Spencer Tucker led the way for the Indians with a 35. Nick Den Hartog shot a 42, Austin Hafner and Spencer Nelson each shot a 44, Hogan Rockhold shot a 46, and Bennett Spry carded a 47.

“Spencer Tucker stepped up big time with his best round of the year to lead us,” said Head Coach Bret Foster. “The rest of the guys dug out enough to get the win. This was a good team win. Sometimes you need to find a way to win when you don’t have some of your top guys at their best. It shows the depth that we are capable of having. We are still waiting for everyone to put it all together at one time and have that great round.”

Oskaloosa is now 4-0 in the Little Hawkeye Conference and will play for the conference dual meet championship on Thursday in Grinnell.

The Oskaloosa boys’ track and field team was in action in Wellman on Tuesday at the Mid-Prairie Hawk Co-Ed Relays, and had a couple of top finishers.

Austin Reed finished 1^st in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.90 and Carter Huyser had a personal record en route to the 800 meter victory with a time of 2:04.14.

Oskaloosa also had a couple of 3^rd place finishes in the relays. The shuttle hurdle relay team of Austin Reed, Jaden VanRoekel, Nik Dykstra, and Mason Aschenbrenner finished 3^rd with a time of 63.52, and the medley relay team of Aschenbrenner, Casey Hill, Aaron Bowie, and Talon Munger finished third with a time of 3:57.66.

Oskaloosa’s track and field teams will be back in action Thursday for a meet in Newton.

Des Moines–The Statesmen baseball team struggled in the opener and then unfortunately could not hold a late lead in the nightcap as it was swept by Grand View in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Sunday.

WPU (19-19, 9-14 Heart) lost by scores of 14-2 and 7-6.

Johnny Valdez (Jr., San Jacinto, Calif., Business Management) provided the two big hits for the visitors in the first matchup, driving in a run on a third-inning double and bringing in another on a seventh-inning triple.

Valdez and Robert Phiakeo (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Business Management) both finished 2-for-4.

Grand View (22-10, 18-6 Heart), which outhit WPU 17-8, countered with two huge innings, including seven runs in the second and six more in the fourth.

Tyler Martinez (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Sociology) ended the game with a pair of strikeouts.

The second outing witnessed the navy and gold post a big number this time, tallying five runs in the first frame.  Steven Sattz (Sr., Pickering, Ontario, Physical Education) had an RBI single, while Valdez brought in the second run on a sacrifice fly.

It was Dominik Sawyer (Jr., San Diego, Calif., Psychology and Human Services) who had the biggest impact, though, as he produced three runs on his second home run of the season.

GVU answered right back with two runs in the bottom half, but William Penn extended its advantage to 6-2 on a J.P. Rios (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Business Management) run-scoring single in the fifth inning.

Unfortunately, the rest of the afternoon belonged to the Vikings as they tied the contest at 6-6 in the sixth and then won it in the seventh.  WPU nearly forced the nightcap into extra play with back-to-back force outs at home, but could not record the third and final out.

Sawyer and Colton Johnson (Jr., Westminster, Calif., Physical Education) both finished 3-for-4, while Javier Gonzalez (Jr., Lakeside, Calif., Physical Education) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.  Daniel Macias (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education) walked twice in the setback as well.

Marshall Siordia (Sr., Lancaster, Calif., Sociology and Psychology) struck out six in the loss.

“We were simply swept by a much better team today,” Head Coach Mike Laird said.  “Again, we failed to make some basic plays and frequently pitched from behind.  Daniel Macias was tremendous on defense in center field.”

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Tuesday to host Hannibal-LaGrange in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage

Oskaloosa–The Statesmen softball team has been on the losing end of several close games this spring, but on Sunday the program reversed its fortunes with a non-conference doubleheader sweep of Mount Mercy.

WPU (19-24), which won by scores of 5-4 and 4-3, is now 5-1 in its last six contests.

The Mustangs (14-20) tallied the day’s first run in the top of the third, but Chyanne Koko (So., Waianae, Hawaii, Business Management) matched that run in the bottom half with a double that plated Kodee Johnson (Jr., Stockton, Calif., General Mathematics).

The hosts then pulled out to a 4-1 lead in the fourth.  Johnson brought in Vernon on a single and Marissa Pereyra (Sr., Fullerton, Calif., Exercise Science) touched home on a single via Jarrah Jensen (Jr., Blakesburg, Iowa, Physical Education).  Johnson also came around on the play courtesy of an MMU error.

Mount Mercy was the one with the answer this time around, posting three tallies in the fifth to tie the game at 4-4.

Fortunately, the navy and gold managed the final run when, after WPU packed the bases in the sixth, Kayla Browning (Jr. Spring Valley, Calif., Biology) earned her way on and sent Breann Robertson (Fr., Rainier, Wash., Human Services and Sociology) in on a hit-by-pitch.

Johnson posted a 2-for-4 performance with two runs scored, while Pereyra and Taylor Vernon (So., Tracy, Calif., Biology) were each 2-for-3.  The Statesmen owned a 9-7 advantage in hits.

Elizabeth Whitaker (Jr., Azalea, Ore., Exercise Science) earned the win in relief; the junior managed three strikeouts in three frames of work.  Koko had one strikeout in the start, while permitting just one run in four innings.

William Penn scored in its initial at-bats of the nightcap when Koko doubled home Johnson in the first frame.  Mount Mercy then tallied all three of its runs in the third and stayed on top for the next two innings.

The hosts clawed back in one run at a time.  First, it was Jensen singling in Johnson in the third, then Hayley Freestone (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) scored on a single by Siarra Velasquez (Sr., Carter Lake, Iowa, Biology) in the fourth.

The rally was capped in walk-off fashion.  After loading the pads with two outs, Pereyra stepped to the plate and crushed a single to the right-center fence to plate Johnson with the winning run.

Highlighted by Johnson’s 3-for-4 effort, WPU owned an 11-10 edge in hits.  Robertson also had a multi-hit showing by going 2-for-2.

Whitaker notched her second win of the day with five strikeouts and no walks in a complete game.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Olathe, Kan. Monday to face MidAmerica Nazarene in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage

Peru, Neb.–Tabitha Scott (Fr., Placentia, Calif., Psychology) was the offensive star in the extra-inning opener and then produced in the pitching circle in the nightcap as the William Penn softball team swept Peru State in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Wednesday.

The Statesmen (16-23, 5-7 Heart) won by scores of 8-6 (10 innings) and 6-1.

Scott tallied four hits in the first game and then limited Peru State (10-32, 2-12 Heart) to just one run on five hits in the second contest as WPU snapped a four-game losing streak.

The freshman had a base knock in both of the first two innings (later scored in the first) to help the visitors to a 2-0 edge.

PSC tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, but the navy and gold reclaimed the advantage in the sixth on an RBI single by Scott.  The home squad rallied, however, to take its first lead at 4-3 entering the seventh frame.

Starting pitcher Chyanne Koko (So., Waianae, Hawaii, Business Management) then helped out her own cause in the seventh by leading off with a double and scoring in the next at-bat to force extra action.

Two scoreless innings followed before the floodgates opened for William Penn in a four-run 10th inning.  On an interesting sidenote, the frame started via the international tiebreaker with each team having a runner on second base and no outs.

Hayley Freestone (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) started the rally with a lead-off RBI double, while Scott and Kodee Johnson (Jr., Stockton, Calif., General Mathematics) recorded run-scoring singles as well.

Peru State threatened in the bottom half, but fortunately only managed two runs to drop the matchup.

Scott was 4-for-6 with two RBIs, while Johnson, Koko, and Chelsee Herron (Sr., Anaheim, Calif., Elementary Education) finished with two hits apiece.  Johnson and Kayla Browning (Jr. Spring Valley, Calif., Biology) matched Scott with two RBIs each.  Nine different players produced a hit as WPU bested the Bobcats 15-14 in that category.

Koko, who left and re-entered the game, pitched a total of 9 2/3 innings, striking out five batters against three walks.

Unfortunately, the Statesmen failed to carry their momentum into the nightcap, trailing 1-0 after four innings of play.  The visitors finally manufactured their first run on a Scott double that plated Breann Robertson (Fr., Rainier, Wash., Human Services and Sociology) to make the score 1-1.

For whatever reason, that hit seemed to ignite a fire under the squad as it erupted for five runs on seven hits in the sixth inning.  Beginning with doubles by Koko and Freestone, William Penn recorded five consecutive hits to open the frame and pulled away from the Bobcats.

The seven hits ended up being half of WPU’s 14 as it nearly tripled PSC’s mark of five.  Browning was 3-for-4, while Johnson, Herron, and Robertson all added two hits each.  The balanced attack included six different players scoring one run.

Scott earned the win by striking out one (one walk) in a complete-game effort.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Des Moines Saturday to face Grand View in a Heart doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage

Nebraska City, Neb.–If Monday and Tuesday are any indication of the level of dominance the Statesmen women’s golf team may enjoy next month at the league championships, it will be a great event as the team cruised to an easy win at the Peru State Invitational.

William Penn was first out of nine teams with a two-day tally of 661 (341-320) at the par-72 Table Creek Golf Course.  The 21st-ranked Statesmen jumped past their varsity reserve teammates on the final day as the second crew won the silver at 664 (338-326).  The best score from a non-WPU team came from Baker at 692 (362-330).

The tournament title is WPU’s fifth of the season and second in a row.  Table Creek GC is the host site for next month’s Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships, so this week’s action served as basically a ‘preview’ tourney.

Demi Coertze (Sr., Johannesburg, South Africa, Digital Communication) won her fourth tournament crown of the year convincingly with a 157 (80-77).  She and her teammates were seven of the top 10 finishers; no one in the navy and gold placed lower than 18th.

“Demi showed why she is our anchor,” Head Coach Nik Rule said.  “She had ice in her veins again; that mentality that has led to two straight individual conference titles was here again and I think she knows what she needs to do to keep it here.”

Brooke Fletcher (So., Atlantic, Iowa, Business Management) followed up a medalist performance at home last week with a second-place effort at 163 (86-77), while Miranda Keeler (So., Plattsmouth, Neb., Communications) tied for 10th at 176 (86-90).

Helene Larsen (Fr., Viborg, Denmark, Business Management), in a tie for 14th at 176 (86-90), and Elise Warne (Fr., Melbourne, Australia, Exercise Science), in a tie for 16th at 177 (91-86), rounded out the varsity team’s showing.

Courtney Cunningham (Jr., Muskogee, Okla., Computer Science) guided the Varsity Reserve team by taking third at 165 (83-82), while Natalie Booton (Sr., Mount Pleasant, Elementary Education) (84-83) and Megan Rhoads (Fr., Schertz, Texas, Psychology) (85-82) shared sixth place at 167.

Jodi Saito (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii, Education), at 169 (90-79), and Jing Yang (Sr., Woodland Hills, Calif., Biology), at 176 (86-90), tied for 10th and 14th, respectively.

Playing as an individual, Alyssa Kerry (Fr., Bend, Ore., Communications) was in the top 20 as well, finishing 18th at 178 (93-85).

“We really wanted to make a statement leading into the conference tournament, being that most of our conference teams were in attendance and that it was at the course we will play,” Rule said.  “Conditions were tough, but we battled through and we achieved our goal of finishing 1-2.  I am very proud of the way all our players powered through.”

“We are not quite to where we need to be, but we are trending in the right direction,” Rule added.  “Our players are really starting to step up and elevate their games; it will make lineup decisions as tough as they have ever been.”

Next Up: William Penn travels to Storm Lake next Saturday and Sunday to compete in the Buena Vista Invitational.  Play will be contested at Lake Creek Country Club.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage

The Oskaloosa Girls’ Tennis team was in action Tuesday night against South Tama on the road, and the Indians pulled out a 7-2 win to move to 2-0 on the season.

Osky was without #1 player Mary Yarkosky, but it did not deter the Indians, as they won 5 of the 6 singles matches and 2 of the 3 doubles contests.

Brooke Caves won 10-2 at #2 singles, while Shelby Briggs won at #3 by a score of 10-4 and Saydee Smith won comfortably at #4 singles, 10-3. Kaity Richmond (10-6) and Jori VandenBerg (10-7) also stepped up and got wins and #5 and #6 singles respectively.

Macy Scharff slid into the #1 spot and fell by a close margin against Natalie Stadler of South Tama, 10-8.

In doubles, Smith and Caves got the win at #1 doubles, 10-6. The #3 doubles team of Josie Bunnell and Kenadi Jones also got a 10-6 win. Scharff and VandenBerg fell in a tiebreak in #2 doubles, 11-10 (5).

Oskaloosa had 11 doubles teams in action in for JV as well, falling 8-3. The #1 team of Allison Chapman and Katie Doll won 4-3, the #3 team of Mallory Lanphier and Paige Watters got a 5-2 win, and the #8 team of Olivia Morrison and Emily Lumsden got a 5-2 win as well.

Oskaloosa will travel to Newton next Tuesday for their first Little Hawkeye Conference matchup of the season against the Cardinals. Play will be held at the Aurora Heights Tennis Courts and will be begin at 4:15.

The Oskaloosa Girls’ Soccer team was back in action last night against Pella Christian, as heard on 99.5 FM/740 AM KMZN andradiokmzn.com.  The Varsity team was looking to continue their winning ways and set the best start in school history against the Eagles.

Although the Indians controlled most of the first half, there were very few scoring opportunities for the Indians and the score was tied 0-0 at half.  With the breeze at their back and renewed sense of urgency, the Indians quickly got on the board with a finish by junior Kamryn Beers just 2 minutes into the 2nd half.  Beers put away a cross from junior Leah VanMaanen.  The Indians were able to generate more opportunities in the 2nd half  and this was the case when senior Jackie Reif, took the ball herself and put away a far post shot in the 58th minute.  Oskaloosa would tack on one more insurance goal from senior Taylor Seaton, who put away a pass from freshman Kirby Nelson.

The final whistle would blow with a 3-0 victory in favor of the Indians moving their record to 4-0.  Along with the best start in school history, the defense would record their 4th shutout of the season.

The team was led in shots by freshman Aleeya Cheney with 5 shots (none on goal) followed by VanMaanen with 4 shots (none on goal), Seaton with 3 shots (1 on goal), junior Ashley Brockman with 2 shots (1 on goal), Reif with 1 shot (1 on goal), Beers with 1 shot (1 on goal), Nelson with 1 shot (none of goal) and freshman Emily Lunsford with 1 shot (none on goal).

“Tonight, we controlled most of the game, but struggled offensively in getting anything going,” said Head Coach Jodi Steinlage. “Although we had a total of 19 shots, we only had 3 on goal which were all goals, but we need to do a better job of taking advantage of the offensive scoring opportunities when we have them.”

“We are very excited to record our 4th victory and 4th shutout of the season,” Steinlage continued. “The last couple of games we haven’t played our best games, but we will take the victories.  The girls are excited to be 4-0, but know that we have a long way to go if we want to accomplish the different goals we have set for ourselves. We are continuing to grow in a new system and as coaches we expected to have speed bumps, but we couldn’t be more proud of the girls and the effort they are giving us.  We will work hard the rest of the week to prepare for next week against another LHC foe in Grinnell.  The Indians look to move to 5-0 and beat the Tigers for the first time in school history. We would also like to thank the fans who came out to support us and loved seeing a good crowd out there cheering the girls on.”

The next game for the Oskaloosa Girls’ Soccer team will be at the Lacey Complex next Tuesday against #13 Grinnell with Varsity first at 5:30 with JV to follow.

Oskaloosa–The Statesmen football team will use the rest of its spring practices and the entire summer to prove the national raters wrong as William Penn fell one position in the NAIA’s spring top-25 rating which was released Monday.

The Statesmen (7-4 in 2015, 3-2 North) dropped one slot to #25 with 30 points.  The Heart of America Athletic Conference is also represented by #5 Baker (Kan.), #6 Grand View, and #20 Benedictine (Kan.), while Missouri Valley (#27) and Peru State (Neb.) (tied for #28) are in the receiving votes section.

Defending national champion Marian (Ind.) is #1 with 314 points and all 14 first-place votes.  Runner-up Southern Oregon is second, while Morningside, Saint Francis (Ind.), and Baker round out the top five.

William Penn will open its 2016 season by hosting Missouri Valley on August 27 in a Heart crossover game at 6 p.m.

NAIA Football Spring Rating – April 11, 2016
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Marian (Ind.) (14)
2. Southern Oregon
3. Morningside
4. Saint Francis (Ind.)
5. Baker (Kan.)
6. Grand View
7. Montana Tech
8. Tabor (Kan.)
9. Doane (Neb.)
10. Reinhardt (Ga.)
11. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
12. Campbellsville (Ky.)
13. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
14. Kansas Wesleyan
15. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)
16. Montana Western
17. St. Francis (Ill.)
18. Dickinson State (N.D.)
19. Point (Ga.)
20. Benedictine (Kan.)
21. St. Ambrose
22. Arizona Christian
23. Georgetown (Ky.)
24. Faulkner (Ala.)
25. William Penn

Others receiving votes: Sterling (Kan.) 10; Missouri Valley 9; Cumberlands (Ky.) 4; Peru State (Neb.) 4; Webber International (Fla.) 4; Robert Morris (Ill.) 3.