Monday, April 22, 2024
by Evan O'Kelly, Assistant Commissioner For Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – Leading the Central Washington men’s 4x100 meter relay team to a Great Northwest Athletic Conference record last week, Josh Green headlined the latest list of GNAC Players of the Week.

Green’s foursome ran a time of 41.01 seconds to set the all-time mark, and his weekly award was also highlighted by the ninth-fastest 200-meters in GNAC history at 21.38 seconds.

SOFTBALL

Player of the Week – Grace McMillan, Simon Fraser

First-career player of the week.

McMillan led all GNAC players in hitting last week, batting .857 (12-for-14) and reaching base at a clip of .867 in the Red Leafs’ 3-1 series win over Montana State Billings. McMillan failed to reach base just two times in her 15 plate appearances over the weekend, finishing off with a 4-for-4 performance in the series finale. McMillan drove in eight runs, scored seven times and slugged 1.063 during the series.

“Grace has been a tough out all year, and has been really fun to watch in her freshman year,” said Simon Fraser head coach Stacy Fournier. “She’s a competitor and understands the game, yet is always asking good questions and wanting to get better. We talked about rolling into the last couple weekends playing our best softball, whether we have a chance at GNACs or not, and Grace has definitely done that. I am excited for her and her career here at SFU.”

Also Nominated: Alyssa Benthagen, CWU; Lauren Blaschak, MSUB; Keana Bell, NNU; Hailey Rath, WWU.

Pitcher of the Week – Sidney Booth, Northwest Nazarene

12th-career pitcher of the week, fourth this season.

Booth delivered one of the best pitching performances the GNAC has seen this season, allowing seven baserunners in 13 1/3 shutout innings of work in the Nighthawks’ sweep of Western Oregon. The senior racked up a GNAC-high 21 strikeouts and contributed in all four of her team’s victories, totaling a pair of wins and a save. Booth had 11 strikeouts in Friday’s seven-inning shutout, marking the third time this season she has reached double digits in strikeouts in a game. Booth added to her GNAC record pitcher of the week total with the 12th of her career.

Also Nominated: Ashlee Laver, CWU; Alli Kimball, WWU.

BASEBALL

Player of the Week – Duke Pahukoa, Northwest Nazarene

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

Pahukoa helped the Nighthawks sweep Montana State Billings last week, posting a slash line of .500/.526/.812. He had multiple RBIs in three of his team’s four victories, as he steadily contributed in clutch situations throughout the weekend. Pahukoa totaled six RBIs, seven runs scored, a pair of doubles and his team-leading seventh home run of the season.

“Duke played a big role in each of our wins last weekend,” said NNU head coach Joe Schaefer. “He came up with big at-bats all weekend long. Whether it was driving in runs or just moving runners, he did his job all weekend.”

Also Nominated: Austin Ohland, CWU; Jack Nehler, MSUB; Randy Stultz, WOU.

Pitcher of the Week – Arturo Alvarez, Western Oregon

Fourth-career pitcher of the week, second this season.

Alvarez put forth a dominant performance in the Wolves’ 8-1 victory over Saint Martin’s, striking out four hitters and walking none across eight stellar innings. The lone run Alvarez allowed was unearned, as he allowed just two Saints to reach scoring position. Alvarez’s defense turned an inning-ending double play in the fourth, sparking a string of 11 consecutive hitters the righty retired towards the end of his outing.

“Arturo had a quality start that helped us clinch a series win,” said WOU head coach Kellen Walker. “It helped keep our bullpen in a good spot going into the fourth game.”

Also Nominated: Jonathan Garza II, CWU; Cole Bertram, MSUB; Kyle Ethridge, NNU

TRACK & FIELD

Women’s Track Athlete of the Week – E’lexis Hollis, Central Washington

Sixth-career track athlete of the week, third this season.

Hollis stole the show at the Wildcats’ home meet, winning the 100 meters, 200 meters and helping the 4x100 meter relay team capture first place as well. Hollis ran the fifth-fastest 200 meters time in GNAC history at 24.16 seconds as she set a PR in the event. Her time of 11.64 seconds was good enough to top a field of 18 competitors, and she capped her standout week by helping the ‘Cats run the fourth-fastest 4x100 meter relay time in GNAC history at 46.23 seconds.

“E’lexis had a really nice weekend in front of her home crowd,” said CWU head coach Jonathan Hill. “She circled this meet on her calendar where she wanted to do all three of her primary events and perform at a high level. Starting with a relay leg you’d expect from an All-American, we were pleased to begin her day with another school record. Moving on to the 100, 11.64 seconds a -0.6 (wind) and a dominant win is a good run for her. A lot of people haven’t seen E’lexis Hollis in person and it’s special. In her 200, which has been a special project, she is really grasping the concepts and gaining confidence. The best is still yet to come from her.”

Also Nominated: Madeline Severson, MSUB; Madison Vu, NNU; Megan Roxby, SFU; Caitlin Cheney, WWU.

Women’s Field Athlete of the Week – Lauryn McGough, Central Washington

Second-career field athlete of the week, second this season.

McGough, who already broke the GNAC indoor pole vault record earlier in her freshman season, tied the second-best outdoor mark as she cleared 13’ 1.75” (4.01 meters) on Saturday. She was just 1.25” shy of the GNAC outdoor record of 13’ 3” (4.04 meters), set by Seattle Pacific’s Scout Cai in 2021. McGough moved her name up to No. 10 on the NCAA Division II performance list.

“We’ve been patiently waiting for Lauryn’s pole vault debut,” Hill said. “She has been throwing, so we see her and know the worker she is and how much talent she has, but she achieved her record-setting, national-qualifying mark because she’s a competitor. I only had one or two technical goals for her, but she wants to win and make every bar they put up. We are so thankful to be healthy and opening up for what we hope is a very long outdoor season.”

Also Nominated: Hannah Cooper, MSUB; Katie Potts, WWU.

Men’s Track Athlete of the Week – Josh Green, Central Washington

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

Green ran the ninth-fastest 200 meters time in GNAC outdoor history, winning the event at the CWU Wildcat Invitational with a time of 21.38 seconds. Green also played a role in helping the Wildcat men break the GNAC outdoor record in the 4x100 meter relay, as they clocked a time of 41.01 seconds. That bested the previous record of 41.10 seconds, set by Central Washington in 2010. Green’s big week featured a leg of the first-place 4x400-meter relay team, which ran 3:19.69, and a fourth-place finish in the 100 meters at 10.88 seconds.

“Josh is another freshman performing at a really high level,” Hill said. “He keeps getting better each week in all aspects. This week he had another quadruple event lineup. We have terrific leadership and much of it comes from this freshman class, and their expectations for this program’s future. Josh runs a monster relay leg and helped us beat our rival on our home track in GNAC-record fashion. He rebounded from a tight 100 to set up a really nice, patient and well-executed 200. He let his legs do the rest on the home stretch for the fastest 200 time the GNAC has had in the last seven years. We are all excited to clean some things up and get back on our home track for the real one in three weeks.”

Also Nominated: Kevin Angarita, UAA; Jaycee Herbert, MSUB; Brian Le, WWU.

Men’s Field Athlete of the Week – Mark Warren, Western Oregon

Third-career field athlete of the week, third this season.

Warren cut loose the sixth-best hammer throw in GNAC history, clearing a distance of 193’ 11” (59.10 meters) at the CWU Wildcat Invitational. Warren’s effort put his name at the top of the GNAC performance list, and was a provisional national qualifier. He climbed to No. 23 on the NCAA Division II performance list as well.

Also Nominated: Drew Klein, CWU; Favor Okere, MSUB; Ryan Doidge, SMU; Jakob Braunstein, WWU.