INDIANAPOLIS – William Jewell's freshman infielder/ pitcher
Kelsey Morgan and Truman State's sophomore pitcher Kindra Henze have been selected the Great Lakes Valley Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, it was announced by the league on Monday.
Morgan batted .545 (5-of-9) with a 1.333 slugging percentage last week, helping William Jewell split its four games at MIAA member Northeastern State, where the Cardinals battled Bacone College (2-0) and Northeastern (0-2). On the week, she recorded seven RBIs, three runs, two home runs, and one assist in nine plate appearances. The Topeka, Kan., native leads the Cardinals in slugging percentage (.840), RBIs (9), and home runs (3).
Henze, a native of Palmyra, Mo., pitched two complete game shutouts against Union (3-0) and Walsh (2-0), averaging more than a strikeout per inning and allowing only six baserunners in a pair of victories. She opened the weekend against Union (Tenn.), where she used 85 pitches in seven innings to blank the host Lady Bulldogs. The right-hander allowed just three hits and one walk, striking out eight in the victory. Then, she took the circle the next day against GLIAC-foe Walsh, where she dealt a two-hit shutout against the Cavaliers. Henze struck out eight more batters and only let one runner reach second base in the victory. On the season, she is 3-1 with four complete games in five starts. She has a 0.86 ERA (4 ER in 32.2 innings) with 28 strikeouts and six walks.
The honor is Morgan's first of her career, and the first for a William Jewell player since teammate
Rachel Potvin won the award on April 22, 2012, while Henze earns her first weekly distinction and first honor for Truman State.
Both programs heads to Joplin, MO next weekend for a tournament at Missouri Southern State University.
