Noteware gets NAIA award
The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level.
Michael Noteware (Glendale Community College, 2011) junior, Lewis-Clark State College baseball: Noteware has been smack dab in the middle of plenty of individual accolades and team success as of late.
Recently named an All-NAIA West first-team selection as well as the All-NAIA West Pitcher of the Year, the right-hander is set to take to the bump today in his team’s NAIA World Series opener against Oklahoma City.
Lewis-Clark stands at 41-12 as it enters the 10-team double-elimination tournament, where it will oppose Oklahoma City for the 13th time in series history.
Noteware has been flat out dominant through the season, having built a 9-2 record through 12 appearances and nine starts. He sports a stellar 2.03 earned-run average, as well as 64 strikeouts to 11 walks in 79 2/3 innings.
Noteware had a bit of a bump in the road to contend with over his last start, taking the loss in a 4-2 defeat against Linfield on May 4. Noteware gave up all four runs over seven innings, allowing seven hits and a walk.
Sean Elliott (Crescenta Valley High, 2009) junior, University of Indianapolis baseball: It’s been a banner season for Indianapolis and it’s still going, as the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional champion is set to open up play in the NCAA championship tournament on Sunday against fourth-ranked Catawba.
UIndy defeated Rockhurst, on Sunday, 9-6, to win its first regional crown in 12 years and improve to an impressive 46-14 in the process.
The 2012 NCAA Division II Championship opens up Sunday and concludes June 2, all in Cary, NC. It’s the program’s second appearance after finishing third in 2000.
Elliott has turned in eight relief appearances over the season, compiling a 1-0 record and a 3.29 ERA over 13 2/3 innings of work.
Elliott turned in one of his better outings on May 10 in an 8-2 loss to Lewis in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament, which the Hounds eventually won. The former Falcon tossed 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and allowed just one hit and one walk. He’s yet to make another appearance on the mound since then.
Baillie Kirker (Crescenta Valley, 2009) junior, University of Arizona softball: The Wildcats swept through the Tucson Regional with an opening win against North Dakota State before doubling up on Notre Dame, including a final victory on Sunday, 8-3.
Next up, Arizona (38-17) begins Super Regional competition against Oklahoma, which eliminated the Wildcats last season.
Kirker, who has yet to play in the postseason, continues to play sparingly, owning a .211 batting average through 20 games played and four started. She’s notched four hits, one run, one home run, nine runs batted in, five walks and continues to be a steady fielding presence when used at first base, boasting a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Joe Stephen (Glendale Community College, 2011) junior, Mt. Mercy baseball: At least for a day, Stephen kept his Mustangs alive and, in the process, finished off his first season at Mt. Mercy with a brilliant performance.
The former GCC reliever went the full nine innings on May 2 to earn a victory over St. Ambrose, as he allowed one run (unearned) and six hits in the 6-1 triumph. He also struck out five and walked three.
Stephen’s performance gave the Mustangs their second win of the day and allowed them to move on in the Midwest Collegiate Conference Baseball Tournament, but, a day later, they lost to Iowa Wesleyan to end their season at 28-26.
Stephen finished up at 7-6, having thrown 76 2/3 innings over 15 appearances, including 14 starts and eight complete games. He struck out 44 to 19 walks.