Metro Sports Report

Kirkwood's Doug Wilson has been named the national junior college player of the year after leading the Eagles to the NJCAA Division II national championship. (MSR photo by Margaret'O'Banion).

Wilson named National Player of Year

Thu - 11 Apr Written by Jim Ecker

Doug Wilson of Kirkwood has hit the national jackpot again.

Wilson was named the MVP of the NJCAA Division II national tournament last month when he led the Eagles to their second national title in four years.

Now the talented 6-foot-7 center from Des Moines has been honored as the National Player of the Year as well.

Wilson had a sensational game in the national finals when he collected 30 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and four assists in the victory over Johnson County at Danville, Ill.

Wilson averaged 21 points, 8.7 rebounds and shot 67 percent from the field. He led the ICCAC conference in points per game, rebounds per game, field goal percentage, rebounds and blocks. For his efforts, he was named the conference MVP and the regional MVP to sweep all four major MVP awards this season.

Wilson thanked Kirkwood Coach Bryan Petersen and his staff for holding him accountable during his two years with the Eagles, both on the court and off the court. "Not every coach would do that," he said.

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Yoder's club has triple-header Saturday

Thu - 11 Apr Written by Metro Sports Report

DES MOINES - The Mount Mercy and Grand View softball teams played Wednesday until they could barely see anymore.

Grand View tripped the Mustangs, 6-5, in eight innings in the first game of their Heart of America Conference doubleheader in Des Moines.

The 24th-ranked Vikings led the second game, 9-7, heading into the bottom of the third when the contest was suspended due to darkness on a cold, gray day in Des Moines.

The teams will finish the suspended game this Saturday at 11 a.m. at Busse Field in Cedar Rapids before they play a regularly scheduled twinbill that day.

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irkwood third baseman London Jackson is greeted at home plate after belting a solo home run in the fifth inning to tie the score, 3-3, against Southeastern Tuesday night. The Eagles won, 6-3. (MSR photo by Margaret O'Banion)

No. 6 Eagles sweep Southeastern

Wed - 10 Apr Written by Metro Sports Report

The sixth-ranked Kirkwood softball swept a non-conference doubleheader from Southeastern, 6-3 and 11-3 in five innings, at the Kirkwood field Tuesday afternoon.

London Jackson belted a solo home run in the fifth inning to tie the score, 3-3, in the opener. The Eagles scored three times in the sixth for the 6-3 triumph. Jessi Butler went 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBIs. Shelby Hulsebus was 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot.

Erin Hocker (14-5) tossed a complete game in the opener, allowing three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts.

Jackson and Lauren Klaahsen hit home runs in the 11-3 victory in the nightcap. It was Jackson's 12th homer of the season, tying her for third-most in NJCAA Division II softball.

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Heick nets 6 RBIs as Mustangs split

Wed - 10 Apr Written by Metro Sports Report

Mount Mercy third baseman Jess Heick drove in six runs Tuesday as the Mustangs split a Heart of America Conference softball doubleheader with William Penn at Busse Field.

Mount Mercy won the first game, 7-3. William Penn took the nightcap, 7-6, in nine innings.

The split left Mount Mercy at 19-9 overall and 12-4 in the conference. William Penn is 16-22 overall and 7-11 in the league.

Heick went 2-for-3 and drove in four runs in the 7-3 victory in the opener. Payton Bruner was 2-for-4 with two doubles and scored twice. Jolona Shield was 3-for-4. Morgan Braughton was 2-for-3.

Jayna Witzany pitched four shutout innings in relief and got the victory. She allowed only one hit.

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Jackson gets 6 hits as Mustangs split

Wed - 10 Apr Written by Metro Sports Report

Mount Mercy center fielder Evan Jackson collected six hits Tuesday as the Mustangs split a non-conference doubleheader with Missouri Baptist at the Plaster Athletic Complex.

Missouri Baptist won a pitchers duel in the opener, 2-1. Mount Mercy responded with a one-run victory of its own in the nightcap, 5-4.

Jackson went 3-for-3 in the 2-1 setback in the opener, accounting for half of Mount Mercy's base hits.

Jackson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the 5-4 victory in Game 2. His RBI double in the bottom of the ninth snapped a 4-4 tie, driving in Austin Hilpipre and giving the Mustangs a walk-off victory.

Hilpipre was 3-for-3 and scored twice in the nightcap. Collin Shrader was 2-for-4. Tito Berdecia belted a solo homer.

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