HITTER:
Keith Hernandez, C/DH
Emporia State University

Hernandez, a 6-foot-0, 190-pound senior from Pio Rico, Ariz., hit .545 (12-of-22) and helped extend the Hornets' winning streak to 35 games with his 10th-inning walkoff home run against Northwest Missouri State Sunday (April 20).

He was 2-for-6 in the finale of the four-game home series with the Bearcats, driving home a run with a single in the third inning to give ESU a 3-2 lead and extend his hit streak to 10 games, then he snapped a 9-9 tie with his two-out solo shot in the 10th after the Hornets forced extra innings with a run in the previous frame.

Hernandez was 7-of-16 (.438) against Northwest with three home runs and eight runs batted in. He staked Emporia State to a 2-0 lead in game one Saturday (April 19) with a two-run homer, and drove home the Hornets' first run with a first-inning single in the nightcap.

He sparked a 10-run first inning in Sunday's opener with a two-run single.

In a road doubleheader sweep of Pittsburg State Wednesday (April 16), he was 5-for-6 with a game-two grand slam, a double and two walks.

He is a graduate of Nogales High School, and transferred to ESU from Pima (Ariz.) Community College.

Others nominated: Jason Asher, OF, SBU; Ryan Bledsoe, SS, NWMSU; Derek Ezell, 1B, MSSU; Troy Landi, CF, MWSU; Ryan Majercik, C, FHSU, Blaine Rutledge, RF, UCM.

Previous winners: 3/17 -- Eric Shortell, RF, ESU; 3/24 -- Brian Majors, LF, ESU; 3/31 -- Tyler Robbins, 3B, FHSU; 4/7 -- Keith Hernandez, C/DH, ESU; 4/14 -- Dusty Washburn, 1B, FHSU.

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PITCHER:
Eric Gilliland, LHP, Fort Hays State University &
Chris Jackson, RHP, Missouri Western State University

Gilliland, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior from Concordia, Kan., came within one out of a nine-inning complete-game win at Central Missouri, as the Tigers became the first team to sweep the Mules at home since 1997 Saturday (April 19).

He allowed only one earned run in the first eight innings before running into trouble with two outs in the ninth. Two errors and a base hit (the 10th allowed in the game) ended Gilliland's outing after 140 pitches, as the Mules plated two unearned runs in the frame.

Besides scattering 10 hits, he walked two and hit four batters while fanning five in the 5-3 win.

Gilliland is a graduate of Concordia High School, and transferred to FHSU from Cloud County (Kan.) Community College.

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Jackson, a 6-6, 180-pound junior from Tukwila, Wash., threw a nine-inning complete game as the Griffons earned a 7-1 victory over Washburn in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday (April 19).

He scattered nine hits -- all singles -- and struck out three without issuing a walk. He allowed only a run in the fourth inning -- one of two frames in which he allowed multiple hits.

Jackson, who lowered his earned run average to 3.78 with his effort, is a graduate of John F. Kennedy Memorial High School and transferred to Western from Columbia Basin (Wash.) Community College.

Others nominated: Jacob Garrison, RHP, MSSU; Diego Soto, RHP, ESU.

Previous winners: 3/17 -- Tyler Applehans, LHP, ESU; 3/24 -- Jared Potts, LHP, UCM; 3/31 -- Tyler Applehans, LHP, ESU & Mark Carey, RHP, UCM; 4/7 -- Bill Disselhoff, RHP, NWMSU; 4/14 -- Eric Wallace, RHP, SBU.

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MIAA Softball Players of the Week

For week of action ending April 20

HITTERS:
Miranda Campbell, 3B
Emporia State University

Campbell, a 5-foot-1 sophomore from Bogata, Texas, extended her hitting streak to 13 games, hitting .444 (8-of-18) and logging an on-base percentage of .524 (11-of-21) as the league-leading Lady Hornets won six conference games last week to secure a berth in the MIAA Tournament.

After going 2-for-4 with a walk, a sacrifice and a run scored in a home sweep of Missouri Southern Tuesday (April 15), Campbell was responsible for the first run in both wins at Central Missouri Saturday (April 19).

She stroked an RBI-double in the sixth inning of game one and scored an insurance run later in the frame as ESU posted a 3-0 win. Campbell led off the second inning of the second game with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly to put the Lady Hornets up, 1-0.

Campbell was intentionally walked in the seventh to load the bases, which led to the tying run getting forced home when the next batter drew a free pass. ESU went on to post a 5-3 10-inning win.

She was 2-for-4 in the opener Sunday (April 20) at Truman, hitting the go-ahead homer to lead off the top of the eighth in a 2-1 ESU win. The two extra-inning wins were the Lady Hornets' first victories this season when trailing after six innings.

Campbell is a graduate of Rivercrest High School.

Others nominated: Christen Belcher, OF, TSU; Katie Bruce, SS, MWSU; Casey Carper, OF, NWMSU; Tarese Ely-Myers, OF, UCM; Emily Herl, 2B, FHSU; McKenzie Mortimer, OF, SBU.

Previous winners: 3/17 -- Jessika Anastos, C, FHSU; 3/24 -- Megan Roark, 1B, MSSU; 3/31 -- Tarese Ely-Myers, CF, UCM; 4/7 -- Miranda Campbell, 3B, ESU; 4/14 -- Whitney Sandberg, 1B, UCM & Tera Swartslander, CF, PSU.

PITCHER:
Samantha Sheeley, RHP
Emporia State University

Sheeley, a 5-foot-7 senior from Coralville, Iowa, went 4-0 with a 0.27 earned run average in four appearances (three starts) for the No. 22 Lady Hornets last week.

She began the week by tossing a no-hitter Tuesday (April 15) against Missouri Southern. She walked four and struck out 10 Lions in the process, but thanks to a pick-off faced just three batters over the minimum in a 3-0 triumph.

Sheeley picked up both decisions in the sweep at Central Missouri Saturday (April 19). She started game one and went the distance in a 3-0 victory, allowing three hits and three walks while strinking out 11.

In the 5-3 10-inning game-two win, she entered the circle in the seventh and pitched four scoreless innings -- walking none and fanning nine batters along the way, including the first three she faced to force extra innings and the first two in the eighth.

The next day at Truman, Sheeley bounced back from allowing her only run of the week in the sixth inning of game one and retired the last seven she faced -- including the last four on strikeouts as ESU rallied for a 2-1 eight-inning win. She had nine strikeouts in the game and allowed only three hits and no walks. The run snapped a string of 25 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.

Sheeley is a graduate of Tiffin (Iowa)-Clear Creek Amana High School, and transferred to ESU from Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College.

Others nominated: Kristal Holland, RHP, UCM; Allison Jones, RHP, MWSU; Kelly Morris, RHP, NWMSU; Katie Noski, RHP, TSU; Kayla Rupa, LHP, FHSU.

Previous winners: 3/17 -- Tiffany Swanson, RHP, PSU; 3/24 -- Megan Leonard, LHP, UCM; 3/31 -- Megan Leonard, LHP, UCM; 4/7 -- Megan Leonard, LHP, UCM; 4/14 -- Megan Leonard, LHP, UCM.

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MIAA Men's Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

For the week of action ending April 20

TRACK:
Aki Nummela
Missouri Southern State University

Nummela, a 5-foot-9, 135-pound freshman from Helsinki, Finland, broke the MSSU record in the 1500 meters with a provisional qualifying effort at the University of Arkansas John McDonnell Invitational last weekend (April 18-19).

He ran in the invitational 1500, and placed 13th with a time of 3 minutes, 50.13 seconds. Nummela shaved .55 seconds off the mark set in 1994 by Jason Riddle (3:50.68), and was the second Division II runner to finish the race which featured three professional runners and 14 Division I competitors from the Big 12 and Southeast Conferences.

Nummela is a graduate of Makelanrinne High School.

Others nominated: Damond Berry, UCM; Jeff Kanger, NWMSU; Kenton Lonberger, ESU.

Previous winners: 3/24 -- M.J. Hassaballa, PSU; 3/31 -- Brian Haynes, FHSU; 4/7 -- John Miles, NWMSU; 4/14 -- Brian Haynes, FHSU.

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FIELD:
Dan Raithel
University of Central Missouri

Raithel, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound senior from Jefferson City, Mo., set a school record with his automatic qualifying mark in the hammer throw at the UCM Mule Relays Friday (April 18).

He won the event with a toss of 213 feet, 11 inches -- two inches better than the school mark set in 1997 by Jeff Kremer and more than four feet better than his previous best of 209-3.

The toss was briefly the best in Division II, before Robert Klenk of Ashland (Ohio) recorded a 219-4 the following day at the All-Ohio Championships.

He also placed fifth in the discus with a provisional qualifying effort of 161-7 -- topping his previous personal best of 159-9 set last season at the MIAA Championships.

Raithel is a graduate of Blair Oaks High School.

Others nominated: Dustin Andrews, ESU; Ben McKim, NWMSU.

Previous winners: 3/24 -- Tim Beeler, PSU; 3/31 -- Brady Maska, FHSU; 4/7 -- Russell Ellis, MSSU; 4/14 -- Josh Honeycutt, ESU.

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MIAA Women's Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

For the week of action ending April 20

TRACK:
Jonel Rossbach
Emporia State University

Rossbach, a 5-foot-8 senior from Omaha, Neb., ran automatic qualifying times in two events at two meets in California last weekend.

She placed fourth in the collegiate 10,000 meters at the Mount San Antonio (Calif.) Relays Friday night (April 18), clocking in at 35 minutes, 24.81 seconds. She smashed the ESU record set by Trudy Searcy at the 1987 NAIA Championships (36:24.85), and breifly was the NCAA Division II leader in the event -- Adams (Colo.) State's Heather Wood ran a 35:12.79 in the Invitational 10K at Mount SAC the next day.

Rossbach went to the VS Long Beach (Calif.) State Invitational Saturday (April 19), and won the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:56.21 -- nearly a minute ahead of her nearest foe, Bridget Helgerson of Division I Southern California. She broke the school record of 17:10.49 set in 1986 by Susan Stine at the NAIA Championships.

Rossbach, who has now automatically qualified for nationals in three events (1500, 5K, 10K), is a graduate of Burke High School.

Others nominated: Audrey Bailey, NWMSU; Chelsea Luck, UCM; Kimi Shank, MSSU.

Previous winners: 3/24 -- Kimi Shank, MSSU; 3/31 -- Jonel Rossbach, ESU; 4/7 -- Kimi Shank, MSSU; 4/14 -- Jonel Rossbach, ESU.

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FIELD:
Jessica Selby-Tallman
Missouri Southern State University

Selby-Tallman, a 5-foot-8 senior from Galena, Mo., broke the school record in automatically qualifying for nationals in the hammer throw with her effort at the Central Missouri Mule Relays Friday (April 18).

She was the top collegiate finisher and second overall with a mark of 187 feet, 7 inches -- smashing the MSSU record she set in the 2007 MIAA Championships of 185-0.5. That's more than 10 feet beyond the qualifying standard and second-best in Division II this season.

Selby-Tallman also posted a provisional qualifying mark in the shot put with her winning toss of 47-6.5.

Selby-Tallman is a graduate of Reeds Spring (Mo.) High School.

Others nominated: Kassie Crawford, NWMSU; Kayla Muyskens, UCM; Connie Philips, ESU.

Previous winners: 3/24 -- Jessica Selby-Tallman, MSSU; 3/31 -- Christen Lauer, TSU; 4/7 -- Jessica Selby-Tallman, MSSU; 4/14 -- Ashley Bernard, TSU.

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MIAA Tennis Players of the Week

For the week of action ending April 20

MEN'S:
Julian Rios
Emporia State University

Rios, a senior from Bogota, Colombia, earned a pair of wins in No. 1 singles against opponents above him in the ITA Division II North Central Region ranking last week.

The 12th-ranked Rios earned Emporia State's lone point in an 8-1 loss to No. 24 Washburn Wednesday (April 16) when he knocked off No. 8 Ryan Ward, 6-2, 6-1. He and doubles partner Kent Grossling dropped an 8-5 decision to No. 7 Nathan Martin and Brad Johnston.

He had a hand in two of ESU's three points in a 6-3 loss to No. 26 Northwest Missouri State Saturday (April 19). Rios and Grossling downed Felipe Gennari and Daniel Usieto, 8-4, in No. 1 doubles, then Rios rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 super tiebreaker win over No. 11 Vigit Sehgal.

Rios transferred to ESU from Cowley County (Kan.) Community College.

Also nominated: Andrew Plum, WU; Jake Saulsbury, NWMSU; Marton Zsiga, SBU.

Previous winners: 3/17 -- Rutger Vliegenberg, WU; 3/24 -- no nominees; 3/31 -- Alex Kacamakis, SBU; 4/7 -- Vigit Sehgal, NWMSU; 4/14 -- Felipe Gennari, NWMSU.

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WOMEN'S:
Natalie Villaflor
Emporia State University

Villaflor, a 5-foot-3 senior from Oklahoma City, Okla., was undefeated in No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles (along with partner Marcela Bayon) as the Lady Hornets went 1-1 on the week against ranked conference foes.

She and Bayon, the No. 1 doubles team in the North Central region according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranking, opened a 6-3 upset at No. 29 Washburn with an 8-1 win over the second-ranked duo of Diana Goldsmith and Amber Raindl. Villaflor then came back and claimed a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Raindl.

Villaflor had a part of both ESU points in a 7-2 home loss to No. 31 Northwest Missouri State Saturday (April 19). She and Bayon posted an 8-1 doubles win over Lisa Pendrak and Carolina Amaral, and then Villaflor defeated Veronica Castilla, 6-2, 6-2, in singles.

Villaflor, the No. 5-ranked singles player in the region, is a graduate of Heritage Hall High School.

Also nominated: Jolee Cook, SBU; Jordan Lipira, NWMSU; Amy Ochs, TSU; Laura Rutten, MWSU.

Previous winners: 3/17 -- Diana Goldsmith, WU; 3/24 -- Brittany Kockler, MSSU; 3/31 -- Kristina Vucenov, NWMSU; 4/7 -- Diana Goldsmith, WU; 4/14 -- Kristina Vucenov, NWMSU.

-- MIAA --