March 30
Performer
Alan Betourne, Monmouth
Betourne, a junior first baseman from Washington, Ill. (HS), is hitting .400 as Monmouth is off to a 9-6 start. Among his 18 total hits are three triples and nine RBI’s. His defense has also been solid, as the first basemen has a .990 fielding percentage.
April 6
Performer
Adam Carlson, Monmouth
Carlson, the senior, right-handed pitcher from Frankfurt, Ill. (Lincoln-Way), got the win against South Division rival Grinnell with his nearly perfect performance. Carlson had a no-hitter until an infield single in the bottom of the sixth; the Pioneers’ only hit of the game. Carlson completed the nine-inning game and recorded the shutout on the strength of six strikeouts and only three walks.
April 13
Performer
Shane Patton, Illinois C.
Patton, a sophomore pitcher from Springfield, Ill., pitched nine innings, allowed only six hits and two earned runs, and had three strikeouts in the second game of a doubleheader against division opponent Monmouth. The Blue Boys gained a 6-2 victory and Patton raised his season record to 3-1.
April 20
Performer
Dan Williams, Ripon
In six MWC victories, Williams, a sophomore pitcher and left fielder from Oshkosh, Wis., pitched twice, winning 2-1 and 12-1, and batted .526 (10 for 19). On the mound, Williams threw 12 innings including a complete game sevenhitter in the 2-1 win and a five inning twohitter in the 12-1 victory. Between the two contests, he walked only two, while striking out seven, and gave up one earned run. Williams was equally effective with the bat, collecting seven RBI’s, two doubles and two triples.
April 27
Performer
Matt Briggs, Knox
Briggs, the sophomore leftfield leadoff hitter from Bartonville, Ill. (Limestone HS), went 4 for 8 (including a home run), knocked in two runs, scored one, had three stolen bases, did not strike out and had five put-outs in left field in Knox’s two wins over Monmouth.
May 4
Performer
Eric Purcell, Beloit
Purcell, a senior outfielder and pitcher from Mukwonago, Wis, pitched a complete-game four hitter in an 11-2 win in the final of a four-game series against Lawrence over the weekend. He struck out three and did not give up an earned run. He did not bat in that game, but in the previous three, Purcell went 5 of 12 (.417), with a double, three RBI’s, a stolen base and scored a run.
May 11
Performer
Steve Myros, Monmouth
Myros, a junior from New Lenox, Ill. (Lincoln-Way), came up with a clutch pitching performance on Saturday, winning the opener of a doubleheader at Illinois College 4-1 to ensure that the Scots would do no worse than tie the Blueboys for
the MWC South Division titles. Myros yielded just one walk and seven hits in the complete game while improving his record to 5-2 and lowering his ERA to 3.04. Monmouth then clinched the title in the nightcap with a 12-11 victory.