Meister slugs his way to weekly honor; Bishay and McMahon win softball recognition
Kenyon baseball and softball players had stellar weeks and earned NCAC Player of the Week honors.
After he recorded a hit in each of the Lords’ four conference baseball matchups last week, the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rewarded Luke Meister with NCAC Baseball Player of the Week. Meister and the Lords remained undefeated in conference play with sweeps over Ohio Wesleyan University and Wabash College.
In the Lords’ four wins, Meister batted .467 with five RBIs and seven runs scored, including a solo home run. The sophomore also reached base twice on walks and another two times by getting hit with a pitch. In the field, Meister was outstanding. In 26 total chances, he converted each one, adding in an assist and four double plays.
The Lords, now on a program-best 12-game winning streak, square off against DePauw on the road on Saturday at noon.
In softball, following a 4-0 week, Clare McMahon and Nicole Bishay picked up North Coast Athletic Conference weekly honors. For McMahon, it is the first time this season she received the award, while Bishay collects Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time.
At the plate, McMahon batted .545 with six RBIs and 11 runs scored, adding four walks into the mix. For Bishay, she started three of the four Ladies’ wins in the circle. In 18 innings of work, the senior gave up six earned runs while striking out nine and walking three. In each of the games, Bishay went the distance to secure wins for Kenyon.
Gono Phiri runs down third track award
For the third time this academic year, Kenyon College first-year Tapiwa Gono Phiri was tabbed the North Coast Athletic Conference men’s track and field Athlete of the Week. His most recent award, given Monday, was based on his results from the Marv Frye Invitational.
At the Invitational, held Saturday, April 9, at Ohio Wesleyan University, Gono Phiri was clearly the top sprinter. He racked up a first-place finish in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.08 seconds and added a runner-up finish in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.28 seconds. Gono Phiri accounted for 18 of Kenyon’s 33 team points and helped the Lords to a seventh-place finish among 13 other teams at the Invitational.
The Athlete of the Week award was Gono Phiri’s first for outdoor track and field competition. His previous two NCAC awards were earned during the indoor season.
Garand nets NCAC lacrosse tribute
Helping the Kenyon College women’s lacrosse team record a statement victory over rival and No. 21-ranked Denison University, first-year goalkeeper Nola Garand was declared the North Coast Athletic Conference’s Athlete of the Week.
Garand got the call to start the important conference contest on Saturday, and she set the tone early. Making a handful of stellar saves in the first half, Garand and the Ladies defense held Denison to just one goal in the game’s first 30 minutes. Garand wound up making seven important saves in that first half of play and totaled eight for the game, helping secure the Ladies’ 8-6 triumph. Garand now has 56 saves on the season. She also sports a 6.68 goals against average and a conference-best .523 save percentage.
The win over Denison was Kenyon’s first since 2013, and the regular-season conference loss was Denison’s first since 2015.The Ladies, now 9-1 overall and 3-0 in NCAC play, will be back in action Wednesday at Ohio Wesleyan University.
