By: Vantage Staff
A couple of Newman baseball players had big days when the team took over Northwest Missouri State University on Sunday, beating the Bearcats at home 13-3 in seven innings.
Senior Jenner Steele set a Newman record by hitting his 11th home run of the season and in doing so broke the single season home run record at Newman in the Division II era. Not only that, but he hit the ball 500 feet over the center field wall, where it landed in an electrical field 110 feet behind it.
Also over the weekend, senior Jake Angelico had a career day, clearing the bases with a walk-off triple down the right field line. He also recorded his first career cycle, hitting a home run to begin the game then hitting a double and single at his next at bats.
The Jets have since played twice. One game was against Southeastern Oklahoma State at home on Tuesday, when they won 23-14 with a season-high 27 hits. Ten different players scored hits during the game. One of those players was senior Zack Stewart, who tied Steele for the home run record by hitting his 11th home run of the season. Angelico hit two home runs during the game, bringing his total to 10 for the season.
Head coach Drew Maus said that the team is motivated by the ongoing competition to see who will end the season with the record.
“Our offense has definitely been amazing when those three guys are in the heart of the lineup,” Maus said. “The amount of fun our team is having while watching these three go at it for the single season home record is a lot of fun.”
On Wednesday, the team played East Central University at home and won 10-0. The shutout was the first of the season for the team’s pitching staff, with junior Brycen Schoenhofer earning the win. Steele continued his hitting streak, with at least one hit in each of the last five games Newman has played.
The Jets have now won six out of their last nine home games and are sitting at a record of 17-19. Up next, they play Emporia State in their final home series of the season. The games start at 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at 1 p.m. Saturday, which will also be Senior Day.
Photo: Courtesy Photo, Newman Athletics
