 |
 |
|
|
Chris Stanifer and Jeremiah Armstrong, two members of the Mount Vernon Nazarene College baseball team, were named the National Christian College Athletic Association National Player and Pitcher of the Week respectively for their efforts in helping the Cougars to their unprecedented fifth NCCAA title during the week of May 17-23.
Stanifer, a senior outfielder from Adrian, Michigan, was named the NCCAA National Tournament’s Most Valuable Player as he posted a .400 batting average in six games. He had three two-hit games at the tournament, drove in four runs, and scored five times.
The former Adrian High School standout finished the season with a school-record 91 hits. Stanifer also posted the second-highest single-season batting average at .453 as he narrowly missed the school record of .455 set by Jeff Newton in 1978.
Armstrong, a senior right-hander from Uhrichsville, Ohio, picked up a victory over Oakland City (IN) University as MVNC eliminated the Oaks 5-1 in the loser’s bracket after Oakland City had beaten the Cougars in the first game of the tournament. Armstrong allowed just four hits, four walks, and one earned run in the win as he also struck out six batters.
The former Claymont High School star finished the season with a 7-5 record and a 3.24 earned run average. In 75 innings of work, Armstrong struck out 77 batters while issuing just 35 walks. Opponents hit just .250 against him for the season.
MVNC finished the year with a 40-15 overall record marking the sixth straight season that the team has won 30-plus games. It was also the fourth time in five years that the team has topped the 40-win plateau.
