Hawks’ Napleton becomes fourth QU standout to be named Midwest Region Player of the Year

QUINCY — Luke Napleton’s historic season has him in line for All-American honors.

The Quincy University junior catcher was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Midwest Region Player of the Year and a first-team all-region selection, which makes him eligible for All-American consideration.

QU coach Matt Schissel was named the Midwest Region Coach of the Year.

The Hawks (47-9) will face Indianapolis in the Midwest super regional beginning at noon Friday at QU Stadium in a best-of-three series. The winner advances to the NCAA Division II World Series, beginning June 3 in Cary, N.C.

Napleton has rewritten the power-hitting records both at QU and in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. He currently has 29 home runs, which is more than any hitter in the nation at any of the NCAA’s three levels. It also is the QU and GLVC single-season record.

In the process, Napleton has established a new QU career record with 50 home runs, which has moved him ahead of teammate Lance Logsdon, who has 48.

Overall, Napleton is hitting .356 with 16 doubles, one triple and 86 RBIs, which leads the nation and is two shy of the QU single-season record. His slugging percentage of .836 ranks among the top 10 in the nation.

He is the fourth player in QU history to be named the Region Player of the Year, joining Josh Rabe in 1999, Kevin Sewell in 2004 and Ryan Snyder in 2016. Those three were all first-team All-Americans.

Napleton was joined on the all-region teams by six teammates.

Sophomore designated hitter Austin Simpson and senior right-hander Spencer Walker were both second-team selections, while first baseman Lance Logsdon, shortstop Gino D’Alessio, utility player Dustin DuPont and right-handed reliever Chase Gockel were honorable mention.

Simpson is hitting .349 with 19 doubles, 19 home runs, 62 RBIs and a .745 slugging percentage. Walker owns a 9-1 record and a 4.11 ERA in 14 starts with 81 strikeouts in 81 innings. His career record of 24-4 is the fourth most victories in program history.

Logsdon is hitting .380 with 15 doubles, 12 home runs and 63 RBIs. D’Alessio leads the Hawks with a .400 average, 20 doubles, 15 stolen bases and a single-season record 85 runs scored. DuPont is hitting .378 with 10 home runs and 50 RBis in 40 games. Gockel owns a 2.08 ERA in 30.1 innings with four saves and 53 strikeouts.

Schissel, in his second season at the helm, has led the Hawks to the most single-season victories in program history and both the GLVC regular-season and tournament championships. It is the fourth GLVC Tournament championship in program history.