Katie Park secures conference recognition at Occidental College

The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level.

Katie Park (Crescenta Valley High, 2010) junior, Occidental College women’s golf: Park continued her stellar ways in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The former All-Area honoree, who won the conference’s individual championship in 2012, enjoyed another successful season with the Tigers in 2013.

Park finished ninth at the SCIAC Championships at Oak Valley Golf Club in Oak Valley with a personal-low of 1-over 73 in the tournament’s final round on April 29.

Park finished with a three-day score of 243. She opened with an 82 before recording an 88. Park rebounded with a 71 on the final day, giving her a confidence boost entering next season.

“Katie had another solid year all around,” Occidental College Coach Andrew Larkin told the college’s website. “I was happy with her strong end to the season, but am looking forward to her taking the next step to be more competitive next year. She didn’t have her best game all year, but still finished high in the conference, reaffirming the threat she can be.

“I believe Katie will have her strongest season in her final year with the goal for both of them to make the NCAA Tournament.”

Ellis Whitman (Glendale Community College, 2011) senior, first baseman/designated hitter, Vanguard University baseball: Whitman finished up his college career with a good showing for Vanguard, an NAIA school in the Golden State Athletic Conference.

Whitman played in 47 of his team’s 49 games, starting in 46. His .299 batting average (47 for 157) was third-best on the Lions. He added a team-high 23 runs batted in, along with 12 runs, six doubles and a phenomenal .996 field percentage, having made just one error in 225 chances.

Vanguard won its final game of the season on April 27, defeating Concordia, 4-1. Whitman went 0 for two with a walk and a hit by pitch. The victory concluded Vanguard’s season with a 22-27 record and a 15-21 GSAC mark.

Kyle Murray (Crescenta Valley High, 2012) freshman pitcher, Cal State Fullerton baseball: Murray, a right-hander, saw limited action for the Titans. The former All-Area honoree went 1-0 in five appearances for Fullerton, which finished 51-10 and 23-4 in the Big West Conference.

In 5 2/3 innings, Murray yielded 13 hits, four runs and struck out five while finishing with a 6.35 earned-run average.

The Titans missed out for the first time in five years on advancing to the College World series.

Fullerton’s season came to a close June 8 with a 3-0 loss to visiting UCLA in a Super Regional elimination contest. The Titans had earlier won the conference championship for the 27th time in its history.

Matt Ashby (Crescenta Valley, 2009) senior, pitcher/outfielder, La Verne baseball: Ashby played in his final game for the Leopards on April 30, making a relief appearance on the mound, as La Verne turned away Southern California Interscholastic Athletic Conference foe Whittier, 4-3, in 11 innings.

Ashby faced just one batter, but the left-hander got his job done, notching a six-pitch strikeout to end the seventh inning.

On the season, Ashby, who was listed as an outfielder/pitcher on the team’s roster, was used sparingly, but put up solid numbers on the mound.

He finished with a 3.18 earned-run average through eight appearances and 5 2/3 innings pitched, striking out two. La Verne went 22-16, 16-12 in conference.