The Missouri Western baseball team had seven players named to the All-MIAA teams which was released Thursday (May 8) morning. The Griffons are 30-18 on the season and will take on the Northeastern State RiverHawks this morning in the first round of the Final Four double elimination tournament which is being held at John Q. Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo. First pitch is scheduled for 11 am.

Junior outfielder Ryan Degner was named to the second team while senior catcher Jake Schrader was a third team selection. Senior pitchers Jake Jones and Mason Queen were named to the honorable mention team as well as junior second baseman Dylon Koch, junior shortstop Cody Childs and senior outfielder David Chew.

Degner who transfered in after Christmas break is leading the Griffons in almost all offensive categories. He is hitting a team high .393 and is currenly on a eight game hitting streak. He also leads the team in hits (68), runs scored (43), doubles (15), total baseas (114), slugging percentage (.659), on base percentage (.463) and stolen bases (18). He is second on the team with nine home runs and 45 RBI. He has a hit in 38 of the Griffons 48 games this season which includes getting four hits in a game three times. He had a season best six RBI earlier this season against the Norteastern State RiverHawks.

Schrader has had a solid season behind the plate for the Griffons catching all 46 games he has played in. Schrader has made 269 putouts with 30 assists and just six errors for a .980 fielding percentage. He has also thrown out 17 runners this season. Offensively he leads the Griffons with 11 home runs in which he has hit two in a game four different times. He also leads the team with 46 RBI. On the season he is hitting .282 with 44 hits, 34 runs scored, 10 doubles, 89 total bases and a .571 slugging percentage. He has a hit in 25 game this season including a career high four against Lincoln on April 6.

Player of the Year: Phillip Wilson, SS/RP, Sr., Central Oklahoma
Pitcher of the Year: Rickey Reeves, Jr., Central Oklahoma
Freshman of the Year: Ryan Helsley, P, Northeastern State
Coach of the Year: Chris Martin, Southwest Baptist

First Team All-MIAA

Pitcher: Ricky Reeves, Jr., Central Oklahoma
Pitcher: Shawn Talkington, Jr, Emporia State
Pitcher: Kyle Gehrs, Sr., Central Missouri
Relief Pitcher: Breton Higgins, Sr., Emporia State
Catcher: David Gauntt, So., Washburn
First Base: Jake O’ Brien, Jr., Central Oklahoma
Second Base: Levi Parker, Jr., Emporia State
Shortstop: Phillip Wilson, Sr., Central Oklahoma
Third Base: Spencer Blacksher, Jr., Southwest Baptist
Outfield: Cody Robinson, Sr., Northeastern State
Outfield: Anthony Pacheco, So., Nebraska-Kearney
Outfield: Brad Wilson, Sr., Central Missouri
Designated Hitter: Josh Ingram, Jr., Central Oklahoma
Utility: Danny Droll, Jr., Nebraska-Kearney

Second Team All-MIAA

Pitcher: Brett Ash, Sr., Washburn^
Pitcher: Jared Sterling, Jr., Central Oklahoma^
Pitcher: David Reese, Sr., Missouri Southern^
Pitcher: Ryan Hesley, Fr., Northeastern State^
Relief Pitcher: Zach Davis, Sr., Central Missouri
Catcher: Max Ayoub, Jr., Nebraska-Kearney
First Base: Mike Failoni, Sr., Lindenwood
Second Base: Cesar Wong, Sr., Central Oklahoma
Shortstop: Ross Wolfe, Jr., Southwest Baptist
Third Base: Dean Long, Jr., Emporia State
Outfield: Clayton Garland, Sr., Fort Hays State
Outfield: Justin Harris, Jr., Emporia State
Outfield: Ryan Degner, Jr., Missouri Western
Designated Hitter: Chance Wolfe, Fr., Southwest Baptist
Utility: Jake Alexander, So., Central Missouri
^= Four pitchers due to tie in the voting

Third Team All-MIAA

Pitcher: Ricky Rivera, Jr., Central Missouri#
Pitcher: Logan Willard, Sr., Nebraska-Kearney#
Pitcher: Jarrod Miller, Jr., Emporia State#
Pitcher: Ryker Fox, Sr., Northwest Missouri#
Relief Pitcher: Phillip Wilson, Sr., Central Oklahoma
Catcher: Jake Schrader, Sr., Missouri Western
First Base: Horace Johnson, Sr., Fort Hays State*
First Base: Jake Vore, Jr., Southwest Baptist*
Second Base: Landon Young, Sr., Southwest Baptist
Shortstop: Toby Cornejo, Sr., Emporia State
Third Base: Matt Johnson, Sr., Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Brandon Landanger, Jr., Nebraska-Kearney%
Outfield: Logan Moon, Sr., Missouri Southern%
Outfield: Christian Binger, So., Southwest Baptist%
Outfield: Trevor Jones, Sr., Central Missouri%
Designated Hitter: Barrett Noirfalise, Sr., Central Missouri
Utility: David Weber, Sr., Northeastern State
#= Four pitchers due to tie in the voting
*= Two first basemen due to tie in the voting
%= Four outfielders due to tie in the voting

Honorable Mention

Pitcher: Kurtis Schuyler, Central Missouri; Dakota McKaskle, Emporia State;Payton Walker, Missouri Southern; Jake Jones, Missouri Western; Tyler Thompson, Pittsburg State; Cory Borsh, Southwest Baptist; Taylor Gentry, Washburn

Relief Pitcher: Stephen Vaughn, Missouri Southern; Mason Queen, Missouri Western; Joe Smidt, Nebraska-Kearney; Ryan McKay, PittsburgState; Sam Vergara, Southwest Baptist

Catcher: Seth Wheeler, Central Missouri; Brad Lamberti, Central Oklahoma.

First Base: Ryan Staggs, Northeastern State; Matt Jackson, Washburn

Second Base: Dylon Koch, Missouri Western; Corey Gragg, Washburn

Shortstop: Brad Jelinek, Central Missouri; Cody Childs, Missouri Western; Andrew Walker, Northeastern State

Third Base: Tony Sandifer, Central Missouri; Brad Foss, Pittsburg State; Kyle Carnahan, Washburn

Outfield: Kevin Gratza, Central Missouri; Tyler Crabtree, Central Oklahoma; Dillon Argo, Central Oklahoma; Price Jacobs, Emporia State; Marshall Vallandingham, Lindenwood; David Chew, Missouri Western; Jon Pomatto, Northwest Missouri; Cody Ball, Pittsburg State; Bo Helsel, Southwest Baptist; Wes Jones, Washburn; Parker Gibson, Washburn
Designated Hitter: Cooper Langley, Fort Hays State; Taylor Herrington, Washburn

Utility: Kevin Czarnecki, Fort hays State; Ben Stewart, Lincoln; Ben Courdret, Lindenwood; Jerry Roam, Lindenwood.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Seven Missouri Western softball players were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll which was released Wednesday afternoon by the league office. Of those seven students, two have earned the MIAA Scholar Athlete Award.

To achieve honor roll status, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 and have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. The Griffons athletes that received this honor are, Taylor Anding, Jackie Bishop, Sydney McCune, Brooke Schaben, Janie Smith, Kat Steponovich and Michelle Stevenson.

The MIAA Scholar Athlete Award is given to those who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50, have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms, and, if competing in a championship sport of the MIAA, earn All-MIAA honors. The two student-athletes that earned this honor for MWSU are Anding and Steponovich.

Newcomers and MIAA Academic Excellence Awards will be given out following the end of the 2013-14 school year.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western women’s basketball coach Rob Edmisson announced the signing of seven student athletes to the National Letter of Intent for the 2014-2015 season.

The Griffons welcome junior college transfers Miliakere (Mili) Koyamainavure of Suva, Fiji (Iowa Central CC), Mhykeah Baez of San Marcos, Texas (College of Central Florida), Chelsea Dewey of Gower, Mo. (Hutchinson CC), Sarafina Handy of Flossmoor, Ill. (Kankakee CC) and Mariah Jordan of Gary, Ind. (Pensacola State) along with freshman Olivia Hanson of Fort Smith, Ark. (Northside HS) and Anna Rogers of Greenland, Ark. (Greenland HS) to next year’s squad.

Koyamainavure, a 5-9, guard from Suva, Fiji, transfers to Missouri Western from Iowa Central Community College. She played her high school basketball at Adi Cakobau School in Nausori, Fiji. While at Iowa Central she was named 1st Team All-Region as a sophomore and 2nd Team All-Region as a freshman. She was also named to the All-Region Tournament team her freshman season. As a freshman she played in 35 games averaging 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game. This past season she played in 32 games averaging 17.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game. She made 51-percent of her field goal attempts as a sophomore. She is also a solid student being named 1st Team Academic All-Region as a sophomore and 2nd Team Academic All-Region as a freshman. She is the daughter of Mereseini and Mataika and plans on majoring in accounting.

Baez, a 6-1, forward from San Antonio, Texas transfers to Missouri Western from College of Central Florida. She played her high school basketball in E. L Broady Academy in San Antonio, Texas. This past season at she averaged 8.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and made 45.3 percent of her shots. This will be the second stint at a Missouri-based program as she attended Jefferson College for one season after her high school career. She played a key role in helping the Patriots nearly capture a berth in the FCSAA State Tournament. She is the daughter of Stephanie and Luis and plans on majoring in sports management.

Dewey, a 5-7, guard from Gower, Mo. transfers to Missouri Western from Hutchinson CC which is located in Hutchinson, Kan. She played her high school basketball at East Buchanan High School in Gower, Mo. Dewey is the third Lady Dragon in as many season to sign with Missouri Western as Lanicia Lawrence and Kyrsten Crawford both played at Hutchinson. Playing a back-up role this past season, Dewey played in all 36 games coming off the bench. She averaged 6.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Dewey hit 22 3-pointers, third most on the team and will have three years to play at Missouri Western. She is the daughter of Cathy and David and is undecided on a major.

Handy, a 5-7, guard from Flossmoor, Ill. transfers to Missouri Western from Kankakee CC which is located in Kankakee, Ill. She played her high school basketball at Marian Catholic in Chicago Heights, Ill. She helped her team to the NJCCAA National Tournament while being named NJCAA 1st Team All-American and to the All-Conference Team. She averaged 19 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. She made 45-percent of her field goals as well as 40.5-percent of her long range shots and 83.7-percent of her free throws. She is the daughter of Emanuel Handy and Virginia Roden and plans on majoring in business management.

Jordan, a 6-1 center from Gary, Ind. Transfers to Missouri Western from Pensacola State College which is located in Pensacola, Fla. She played her high school basketball at Thea Bowman in Gary, Ind. While in junior college she was an All-Conference and All-American selection. While at Pensacola State she averaged 7.7 points per game and 3.4 rebounds. Her freshman season she played at Malcom X where she scored 16.4 points per game and 10.7 rebounds per game. In high school she was an All-Area selection averaging 11.6 points per game, 22 rebounds per game and 5.2 assists per game. She plans on majoring in criminal justice.

Hanson, a 5-11 guard from Fort Smith, Ark. played her high school basketball at Northside HS. She was a six year letter winner at Northside and helped her team reach the state final three straight years which included winning the state title in 2013. She was a 2014 All-State selection as well as being named to the All-Tournament team. She is a three time All-Conference selection. As a senior she averaged 15.6 points, 2.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. She led the state of Arkansas in 3-point percentage 45-percent and shot 50-percent from the field. She is also a solid student being a member or the National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Paula and Carl and is undecided on a major.

Rogers, a 5-7 guard from Greenland, Ark. played her high school basketball at Greenland HS. She had a very successful high school career and averaged 12.3 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.6 steals per game. She also shot free throws very well making 94-percent of her charity shots. She led her squad to back-to-back state championships her sophomore and junior seasons. Rogers was an All-State selection as a junior and senior.

“We are excited to welcome this group to our Missouri Western family,” stated Coach Edmisson. “We feel these additions will have an impact on the future success of our program.”

— MWSU Sports Information —