Monday, April 8, 2024
by Evan O'Kelly, Assistant Commissioner For Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – Jonathan Garza II of Central Washington threw the sixth no-hitter in Great Northwest Athletic Conference baseball history, as his performance headlined the latest list of GNAC Players of the Week.

Garza II struck out six while holding Saint Martin’s hitless on Saturday, propelling the Wildcats to an 11-0 triumph. Garza II became the first GNAC player to log a no-hitter since Western Oregon’s Austin Crowson beat Concordia 2-0 on April 25, 2019. He also became the second Wildcat since the team joined the GNAC in 2001-02 to author a no-hitter, joining Brandon Williams (Feb. 7, 2015).

BASEBALL

Pitcher of the Week – Jonathan Garza II, Central Washington

First-career pitcher of the week.

The right-hander received plenty of offense in the victory, as the Wildcats scored 10 of their 11 runs in the third-through-fifth innings. Garza II worked around four walks to earn his first-career shutout, retiring nine of the first 10 batters he faced. It was the third individual shutout by a GNAC pitcher this season.

Also Nominated: Colin Driscoll, SMU; Dylan Chalmers, WOU.

Player of the Week – Ryan McCarthy, Central Washington

First-career player of the week.

McCarthy led all GNAC players last week with a .500 batting average, going 7-for-14 at the plate. McCarthy had a season-high five RBIs to help Garza II’s cause in the no-hitter, and he had hits in all four games last week. McCarthy’s seven total RBIs were second most by a GNAC player last week, and he reached base at a clip of .533 while slugging .643.

Also Nominated: Dylan McLaughlin, SMU; John Oleson, WOU

SOFTBALL

Player of the Week – Heather Ebner, Saint Martin’s

First-career player of the week.

Ebner led the Saints to a big four-game road sweep of Western Oregon, playing a key role both offensively and defensively. The freshman led all GNAC players in batting average (.615) and on-base percentage (.722), and she had three doubles among her eight hits for a slugging percentage of .846. Defensively at third base, Ebner didn’t commit a single error in 19 total chances, and matched her season high with six assists in the series opener against the Wolves. Ebner raised her season slash line to .384/.479/.586 with the big week, and her 11 doubles on the season are the most in the conference.

“Heather has been a big addition to our team this year, both offensively and defensively,” said SMU head coach Jim Peterson. “She is a hard worker and is always looking to improve her game.”

Also Nominated: Teagan Seeton, MSUB; Keana Bell, NNU; Maleah Andrews, WWU.

Pitcher of the Week – Joie Baker, Western Washington

First-career pitcher of the week.

Baker was dominant in the circle for the Vikings, as she helped her team to a four-game sweep of Simon Fraser on the road to stay at the top of the GNAC standings. Baker allowed zero earned runs in 13 innings pitched, while posting the top opposing batting average by a GNAC pitcher last week at .119. Baker racked up 13 strikeouts in her 13 innings of work, securing a pair of victories in the series.

“Joie has worked so hard to get back from last year’s injury for her teammates,” said WWU head coach Sheryl Gilmore. “She has continued to work hard every day this year. She is humble, is a competitor and supports our other pitchers and makes them better. She has gone against the best opponents we have faced this season. She is the rock of our staff and has really helped Alli (Kimball) and Kaiana (Kong) be where they’re at. We wouldn’t be where we are as a team without her.”

Also Nominated: Gina Skinner, NNU; Chloe Leverington, SMU; Julia Hansen, SFU.

TRACK & FIELD

Women’s Track Athlete of the Week – Morgan Erler, Northwest Nazarene

First-career track athlete of the week.

Erler ran a PR 10,000 meters time of 36:53.62 at the Whitworth Peace Meet on Friday, topping a field of six competitors in the race. The time was the second-fastest in Northwest Nazarene history, as Erler climbed to No. 3 on the GNAC performance list for the season. The speedy time also stood as the 23rd-fastest in Division II thus far in 2024.

“Morgan’s hard work is coming to fruition,” said NNU head coach Danny Bowman. “Throughout the battle with the crazy weather we have had, her attitude has remained positive and energetic to keep getting better. Her teammates are very supportive and I believe with that and her drive, she is able to continue to be successful on the track.”

Also Nominated: Zoe Gonzales, CWU; Cassidy Walchak-Sloan, SMU; Elizabeth Vanderput, SFU; Caitlyn Cheney, WWU.

Women’s Field Athlete of the Week – Katie Potts, Western Washington

Fifth-career field athlete of the week, fourth this season.

Potts broke the WWU school record in the shot put, recording a throw of 45’ 2.25” (13.77 meters) to top a field of 18 competitors at the Doris Heritage Invitational on Friday. She followed that by winning the discus at the same meet, recording a provisional qualifying mark of 151’ 8” (46.24 meters) which ranks her 16th nationally.

“She has been so invested in our program and has been such a wonderful leader,” said WWU head coach Ben Stensland. “She is one of the most team-focused people we have, and has really been invested in her pursuit of breaking this school record. It was a really special thing for her to hit a breakthrough in the shotput and hopefully she carries that momentum into this next weekend and continues to perform like that. She puts a lot of pressure on herself because she knows how talented she is, and it’s cool to see that start to blossom.”

Also Nominated: Tehya Moore, CWU; Jordan Eldridge, NNU; Jocelyn Saribay, SMU; Marilyn Ramirez-Carmona, WOU.

Men’s Track Athlete of the Week – Johan Correa, Central Washington

Third-career track athlete of the week, second this season.

Correa ran the 10th-fastest 800 meters time in Division II this spring, clocking in at 1:50.47 to place second at the John Knight Twilight meet in Monmouth, Ore., on Friday. Correa also won the 1,500 meters at the meet, hitting a PR of 3:54.06 to top a field of 41 competitors. Battling a field of 32 runners on his way to the GNAC-leading 800 meters time, Correa finished behind only the unattached Derek Holdsworth.

“It was exciting watching Johan back in action,” said CWU head coach Jonathan Hill. “He is our team leader and our whole program was energized watching him race. Coach (Matt) Layten has been by Johan’s side since his arrival, so I want to give credit to their relationship and communication.”

“It was a great day for Johan and there was a great opportunity to open him up in the 800 this weekend,” said CWU assistant coach Matt Layten. “Leaving the meet with personal bests in both the 800 and 1,500 is a testament to his strength, hard work and competitiveness that he shows day-in and day-out. He sets a tremendous example for our team and it is awesome to see him ranked among the nation’s best middle distance runners after this weekend.”

Also Nominated: Andrew Rush, MSUB; Brody Kemble, NNU; Kainalu Pagente, SMU; Andrew Thomson, SFU; Isaiah Rodriguez, WOU; Ryan Greenwalt, WWU.

Men’s Field Athlete of the Week – Ethan Guidry, Saint Martin’s

First-career field athlete of the week.

Guidry became the fourth GNAC athlete this spring to eclipse 200 feet in the javelin, locking down a provisional qualifying mark at 200’ 2” (61.01 meters) at the John Knight Twilight meet. It was a more than 11-foot PR for Guidry, who earned the bronze medal in the event at last year’s GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships when he hit 188’ 11” (53.32 meters). Guidry slotted his name at No. 27 on the Division II performance list.

“Ethan is a former baseball player and has been throwing javelin for a year and a half,” said SMU head coach John Schultz. “He is a student of the game, is an extremely hard worker and has a huge upside. He has figured out the technique and has put that technique into action. He keeps studying video and he is a great kid to coach. He keeps working on his technique and the distance keeps coming.”

Also Nominated: Omar Young, CWU; Tyler White, WOU; Liam Wall, WWU.

MEN’S GOLF

Player of the Week – Grayson Giboney, Northwest Nazarene

Second-career player of the week, second this season.

Giboney was the conference’s top finisher at the 2024 Hot Dirt Shootout, carding a two-round score of 3-over-par 147 (77-70) to tie for 28th place. Giboney showed strong improvement between rounds, cutting off seven strokes to finish with a 2-under-par 70 on the final day of the event. “Grayson hit the ball extremely well and has continued his strong play from the past few weeks,” said NNU head coach Fred Sutton.

Also Nominated: Paul O’Neil, MSUB; Nick Ennis, SMU; Denby Carswell, SFU.

WOMEN’S GOLF

Player of the Week – Christine Cho, Northwest Nazarene

Second-career player of the week, first this season.

Cho led all GNAC women’s golfers at the RJGA Palm Valley Classic over the weekend, shooting a two-round score of 7-over-par 151 (79-72). Like Giboney, Cho made a strong adjustment between rounds and finished the event with a season-best even-par 72. “Christine had a tough start to the tournament, but did an amazing job coming back and leading our team,” Sutton said.

Also Nominated: Kelsie Inouye, SMU.

WOMEN’S ROWING

Crew of the Week – Cal Poly Humboldt Varsity 8+

The Lumberjacks’ varsity 8+ boat claimed victory at the 2024 Pioneer/Pilot Invitational Regatta on Saturday, finishing with a time of 7:50.10 to best a field that included three GNAC teams as well as Division I University of Portland. “The v8 had the race of the weekend,” said head coach Matt Weise. “This group had a great week of practice and really put that onto the race course. The goal was to apply their new-found rhythm under race conditions and they did that under difficult race conditions. This group has made great strides since we raced other D2 teams in Seattle two weeks ago. They had a great race with the University of Portland. We took an early lead but Portland pushed back in the second quarter of the race and it was tight racing the rest of the way. We out-sprinted them at the end for the win.”

Also Nominated: Western Washington Varsity 4+